Ye often hear it said ...
“Church
traditions are as authoritative as scripture.”
but Jesus said (Matthew 15:6):
"And {thus} you invalidated
the word of God for the sake of your tradition."
The word of God in this context was the Law of Moses that taught them to honor their parents, i.e., to take care of them and provide for their needs. Alternatively, their tradition had allowed them to deny their parents this honor provided they gave what they owed their parents to God. Whenever we add to or take away from God's law the result is the invalidation of the word of God. That is, we no longer regard it to be authoritative.
Further, Jesus said (Matthew 15:9)
...
"
... in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the precepts of men."
In Matthew 15, Jesus was having a controversy with the
scribes and the Pharisees as to why Jesus’ disciples transgressed the tradition
of the elders by not washing their hands before eating. First, recognize
that these were the God-ordained religious authority of that time (Mt. 23:1-3):
“Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying, ‘The scribes
and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to
observe, that observe and do, but do not do according
to their works; for they say, and do not do.’” (Their closest scriptural
counterparts today would be local elders and deacons.) Second, recognize
that, in and of itself, there is absolutely nothing
wrong with washing your hands before eating. Most people do it for health
purposes, and that is good. However, the religious leaders had elevated
this to a ritual that they required, and, as such, had usurped God’s authority,
making that act one of vain (empty, meaningless) worship. It is important
that we examine everything that we do in the name of
religion and assure to ourselves that it is authorized by God. 1 Pet
4:11: “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.
If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in
all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be
the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
Those who add to or take away from God's word are placing themselves in a
position where they are claiming that they are wiser than God. They proclaim
that God did not know what He was doing when He formulated His law, or else
that He did not know how to reveal it effectively. John stated (2 John 9):
"Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ,
does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father
and the Son." As you study the bible see that those who acted in this way
"received a just recompense of reward ... how shall we
escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" (Heb. 2:2-3)