Contenders
Worship is what the heart celebrates.
God has implanted into each of our hearts the desire to worship. And, we can so often place ourselves as the object of worship. Thus, all men are contenders for worship.
We each look to self as number 1, until another rolls along and hollers - please listen to me instead. Then the new contender snaps a man's self-worship replacing the first with a second. There is no betterment. It remains false worship.
People are yet to learn the hollowness of worship tradition established through their own rules. Everywhere they resist the divinely deposited witness to only worship in spirit and in truth, for their worship is created from their own imagination. This is not truth.
Jesus condemns His own people, echoing the prophet Isaiah:
You have let go of the commands of God and are holding onto the traditions of men. (Mark 7:8)
Jesus has redeemed worship. His invitation is so much easier, kinder, restful and true:
The Last Word:
come with Me to a quiet place and get some rest. (Mark 6:31)