I teach my kids, like my parents taught me, and like their parents taught them, "to eat what is put in front of you… and don't complain." Truth be told, our family is full of these rules for living. Rules turn traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. I find these traditions helpful in turning children into polite, well-mannered adults. At least, that is the hope. But the problem is… while my kids may appear better behaved than the neighbours', even godly in demeanour, what is the state of their hearts? Matthew 15 finds Jesus showing us the true root of sin is found in the heart. While our traditions can make us look clean on the outside, we are far from clean on the inside, where it counts. Only Jesus can truly wash us clean of sin, inside and out, giving us a new heart so that we might follow him.