I ran out of space, so let's give some examples of these traditions and customs.
1. The example the Lord gave was the teaching concerning the Sabbath. This was a very big deal back then, like the third rail on the subway line, touch it and you die.
2. Today we have a new one. Jesus said that when He returned there would be signs in the heavens
Luke 21:25 25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars.
The Lord tells us that we will see signs in the sun, moon and stars to indicate the coming of the day of the Lord and yet if you talk about these signs you are accused of dabbling in "astrology". God created the stars and said they were for signs. The Jewish calendar was based on using the sun, moon and stars to determine each month. Each month began with the first sliver of the new moon. The first month of the year takes place after the Spring equinox. The feast of Trumpets is based on two witnesses reporting they have seen the new moon sliver. There was a star in the sky as a sign when Jesus was born, the "star of Bethlehem". Psalms tells us that the heavens declare the glory of God and that the stars are speaking to us. But many believers are terrified to even consider these signs because of this fear it is "astrology".
Matthew 24:29 “Immediately after the distress of those days
“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
(Mark 13:24-25, Isaiah 13:10)
3. The rapture. The whole "no one knows the day or the hour" has become a tradition. The traditional teaching is that you use this to dismiss any discussion of the end of the age and rapture. The way this is understood is that since no one knows the day or the hour it is not anything we need to be concerned with. As long as we are ready for the Lord when He comes we'll be fine.
The problem is that the context of this word is completely different.
No one knows the day or the hour that you should reap the fields. This is why the farmer must watch. He can't just pick a date on a calendar and schedule the harvest two weeks ahead of time. He has to keep an eye on the fields and on the weather report.
No one knows the day or the hour that their pregnant wife is going to give birth. That is why you must watch, be ready, have regular check ups with the doctor.
No one knows the day or the hour that a thief will strike, again this is why we have night watchmen.
1. The example the Lord gave was the teaching concerning the Sabbath. This was a very big deal back then, like the third rail on the subway line, touch it and you die.
2. Today we have a new one. Jesus said that when He returned there would be signs in the heavens
Luke 21:25 25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars.
The Lord tells us that we will see signs in the sun, moon and stars to indicate the coming of the day of the Lord and yet if you talk about these signs you are accused of dabbling in "astrology". God created the stars and said they were for signs. The Jewish calendar was based on using the sun, moon and stars to determine each month. Each month began with the first sliver of the new moon. The first month of the year takes place after the Spring equinox. The feast of Trumpets is based on two witnesses reporting they have seen the new moon sliver. There was a star in the sky as a sign when Jesus was born, the "star of Bethlehem". Psalms tells us that the heavens declare the glory of God and that the stars are speaking to us. But many believers are terrified to even consider these signs because of this fear it is "astrology".
Matthew 24:29 “Immediately after the distress of those days
“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
(Mark 13:24-25, Isaiah 13:10)
3. The rapture. The whole "no one knows the day or the hour" has become a tradition. The traditional teaching is that you use this to dismiss any discussion of the end of the age and rapture. The way this is understood is that since no one knows the day or the hour it is not anything we need to be concerned with. As long as we are ready for the Lord when He comes we'll be fine.
The problem is that the context of this word is completely different.
No one knows the day or the hour that you should reap the fields. This is why the farmer must watch. He can't just pick a date on a calendar and schedule the harvest two weeks ahead of time. He has to keep an eye on the fields and on the weather report.
No one knows the day or the hour that their pregnant wife is going to give birth. That is why you must watch, be ready, have regular check ups with the doctor.
No one knows the day or the hour that a thief will strike, again this is why we have night watchmen.