Add Thou Not...

February 22

Read: Deuteronomy 4:1-10

The last act of Moses prior to Israel’s entrance into Canaan was to preach his way through the law. This sermon is recorded as the book of Deuteronomy. In the midst of all the rules and regulations and exhortations to remember and obey, there is one statement which should not be overlooked. Deuteronomy 4:2 says, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.”

The Jews have historically had trouble with the first part of this command. In their zeal to follow God, they drew lines which God never gave. Much of their disagreement with Jesus was over His refusal to honor the traditions of the elders. These traditions, written to “enhance” the law, ultimately overthrew it. Even today, the Jews give as much credence to their traditions and the teachings of the elders as to the Word of God itself.
The Mishnah and the Talmud are written collections of interpretations, case studies, commentaries and sermons that are frequently used as guidelines for interpreting the Law, or Torah. To the extent they provide additional understanding, they stand in the same place as expository sermons. When they begin to have authority over the revealed Word of God, they have gone too far.

Modern fundamentalists frequently fall victim to the same process. In our desire to be separate and holy (not an unworthy goal), we add things to the Word of God. Every church has its little list of do’s and don’ts equivalent to the old saying “I don’t drink, smoke or chew nor go with girls who do.” When pushed on the biblical relevance of one of these issues, we will invariably end up exactly where the Pharisees did, “But it’s our tradition.” And also like the Pharisees, we are susceptible to falling into the ditch of tradition.

Proverbs 30:6 has a similar warning, “Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” God’s word is pure. It will be vindicated. It will pass through the fire. Our word has no such guarantee. Let’s be careful not to add our own spin to the Scriptures. They are sufficient. If they don’t say it, it doesn’t need to be said. If they do say it, we should proclaim it from the housetops.

Just a servant,

Bro. Tom