WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1
Scripture: Matthew 15:1-9, Matthew 5:38,39

Matthew 15:1-9 speaks about traditions of the church that Jesus had to face. Verse 6 sums up their condition when Jesus said, “Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.” We are in the same condition today because we have been taught to “turn-the-other-cheek” and rarely resist evil. Matthew 5:38,39 says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” An essential reason that God developed a relationship with Abraham was so man could keep the way of the Lord, walking in righteousness so he could do judgment. Representing the authority of heaven means both doing righteousness and doing judgment. Once God covenanted with Noah that there would be no more floods of judgment, He wanted man to help restrain evil. We know from 2 Thessalonians that this continues to be a purpose. But when we believe that we are supposed to turn our other cheek and pray for our enemy in every situation, we are made enablers of evil and we do not restrain it. 2 Thessalonians makes it very clear: one important job of the church is restraining evil. But tradition has trained the church to take Matthew 5:38,39 out of context, and has made Matthew 15 just as real now as it was the day Jesus uttered it. We need to get delivered from tradition so we can walk in the way of the Lord.