“Why don’t they wash their hands?”

What?

“Your disciples, why don’t they wash their hands?”

Why do you steal from your parents?

“What?”

Why do you steal from your parent’s retirement funds when the rent is due? Why do you take food out of their mouths? Why do you gut their pension plans?

“What are you talking about, Jesus? We were just asking about the ceremonial handwashing thing. You’re making a federal case out of this.”

What you started, you are going to have to finish. You asked about Peter washing his hands. You asked why my disciples break the tradition of the elders. Though you don’t understand this completely, what you are saying is, “why do they obey God and disobey tradition?” So I ask you, “why do you disobey God and obey tradition?”

You know you are supposed to take care of your parents. It is their retirement plan.

But here’s what you do:

You pledge money in the temple fundraising campaign. You make a five- year pledge. You get to keep the money until it’s due, you get to use it to earn interest, but you say that you can’t give it to help your parents because, “It’s been committed to God.”

That is hypocrisy.

——–

When we are following Jesus, we have to make sure we are following Jesus and not what people have said that he meant when he said that.

When we are following Jesus, we have to be prepared for having our words weighed carefully by him.

When we are following Jesus, we have to consider the possibility that it is freeing.

When we are following Jesus, we may ask him questions.

When we are following Jesus, we may have to answer questions, too.

When we are following Jesus, we can wash our hands.