What Does It Mean to Follow Truth vs. Tradition?

Religious traditions can become dangerous when they replace God's actual commands or create barriers between people and God. The Pharisees confronted Jesus not for breaking God's law, but for ignoring their human interpretations. They had turned ceremonial hand washing into a universal requirement and created loopholes that allowed people to avoid caring for their parents while appearing spiritual. Jesus exposed how external religious performance without heart transformation is worthless. True righteousness comes through surrendering to Jesus as the way, truth, and life, not through controlling others with man-made rules.