In the Bible itself, Jesus participates within many traditions of the time that do not have their root in scripturally mandated beliefs.
Jesus Is Rejected by the Jews
22 At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon.
John 10:22-23 (NRSV)
In here we see Jesus participating in Hanukkah. Not only did Jesus show up in Jerusalem as was standard at the time, but he also visited the temple that day.
The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth
16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Luke 4:16-21 (NRSV)
This is a tradition that had existed where Scripture was read standing up and explained sitting down.
The Beatitudes
1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
Matthew 5:1-2 (NRSV)
He participated in the tradition yet again.
Jesus and the Temple Tax
24 When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?” 25 He said, “Yes, he does.” And when he came home, Jesus spoke of it first, asking, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others?” 26 When Peter said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the children are free. 27 However, so that we do not give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me.”
Matthew 17:24-27 (NRSV)
Jesus paid Temple Tax as was tradition at the time and not mandated.
The Wedding at Cana
1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
John 2:1-11 (NRSV)
In the Wedding at Cana Jesus participated with the multi day wedding celebration as was tradition at the time.
The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth
16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read,
Luke 4:16 (NRSV)
This explains that Jesus participated with a tradition at the time. Going to the synagogue on the Sabbath was a tradition of the time that was not mandated by scripture.
20 And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
Luke 22:20 (NRSV)
It was custom to eat the meal as if it were a feast. This contradicts the scripture of the time mandating eating the meal in haste.
30 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Matthew 26:30 (NRSV)
Jesus participated with a tradition of more than was required for the Sader meal. In here it mentions that Jesus had “sung the hymn”. This is in reference to the tradition of singing Psalm 113-118
Rivers of Living Water
37 On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, 38 and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’”
John 7:37-38 (NRSV)
This was a celebration of the Feast of the Tabernacles and Jesus was there.
41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all.
Mark 6:41 (NRSV)
Blessing the bread before eating it was a tradition of the time.
The Institution of the Lord’s Supper
26 While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”
Matthew 26:26 (NRSV)
Again blessing bread before eating it.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others.
Matthew 23:23 (NRSV)
It was tradition to tithe minor spices, not a mandate. Deuteronomy 14:22-23 Leviticus 27:30
39 Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. 40 They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews.
John 19:39-40 (NRSV)
In here Jesus was participating in a tradition of the time, however minimal his participation was.
The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth
16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
Luke 4:16-17 (NRSV)
Jesus was participating in reading from the prophets which were at the time not considered scripture.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth.
Matthew 23:27 (NRSV)
It was a tradition that if someone touched a dead body they would become spiritually unclean, also a tradition for people to clean the tomb stones.
Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away.
Acts 1:12 (NRSV)
It was a tradition of the time to not travel a distance on the Sabbath day. The law mandated that people star with their village or camp.