Warning against hypocrites

Matthew 15:1-9
Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from jerusalem and said, "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat." He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever reviles father and mother must surely die.' But you say, 'If anyone tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is given to God, he need not honor his father.' So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. You hypocrities! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: "This people honors me with their lips but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."

Jesus pierces the hearts of the Pharisees and challenges their holding onto the traditions. Empty traditions that leds people down a path of legalism may cause them to be further away from God; even if these tradition seems to be godly ones. Consider how you hold onto your traditions; have they replace the very teachings and the heart of God? Have empty traditions become more of a idolatrous lifestyle as opposed to a holy and sanctified living?