Matthew 15: Wash your hands

The gospels share the story of an event in their life when the Pharisee's complained to Jesus that He didn't make his disciples wash their hands before eating. For years I was confused with this passage. I remember thinking, "Didn't Jesus know about germs...He is God". Eventually I studied more about it and discovered it really had nothing to do with hygiene. Rather it had to do with ceremonial washing as a religious rite. The Pharisee's actually believed that if you didn't follow the right pattern to wash your hands you opened yourself up to the devil. Jesus explained that their tradition was not God's instruction but rather man made. Jesus told them that they are more about their tradition but they forsake the commands of God like honoring your parents and helping them in their old age. Therefore, Jesus was not ignorant of hygiene and the importance of washing your hands but he was not into man made rules that put a spirit of bondage on people. The next point in this story was that our words show our heart. The rest of the chapter talks about a persistent Gentile who believes Jesus can help her...and Praise God He did....it shows God can help anyone.