"I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that [there is] nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteems any thing to be unclean, to him [it is] unclean." (Romans 14:14)
And he said unto them, "Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean." (Acts 10:28)
"Then came together unto Jesus the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes which came from Jerusalem and when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashed hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees and all the Jews, except they wash [their] hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And [when they come] from the market, except they wash, they eat not.
And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Jesus, "Why walk not Thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?"
Jesus answered and said unto them, "Well hath Esaias [Isaiah] prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, "This people honours Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups and many other things such like things ye do."
And Jesus said unto them, "Full well ye reject the commandments of God, that ye may keep your own tradition ..." (Mark 7:1-9)
In these scriptures, there is a lot going on, including questions of authority. Herein, the scribes (which had travelled from Jerusalem -- a considerable distance away) had joined the Pharisees in finding fault with Jesus' disciples. They had witnessed some of Jesus' disciples eat bread with unwashed hands. Of course, the condemnation was not really about the unwashed hands, but rather that Jesus' disciples would not submit to the man-made authority of the traditional church. To address this, the scribes and Pharisees criticized the disciples actions to Jesus, "for the Pharisees and all the Jews, except they wash [their] hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders." (Mark 7:3)
And he said unto them, "Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean." (Acts 10:28)
"Then came together unto Jesus the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes which came from Jerusalem and when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashed hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees and all the Jews, except they wash [their] hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And [when they come] from the market, except they wash, they eat not.
And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Jesus, "Why walk not Thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?"
Jesus answered and said unto them, "Well hath Esaias [Isaiah] prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, "This people honours Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups and many other things such like things ye do."
And Jesus said unto them, "Full well ye reject the commandments of God, that ye may keep your own tradition ..." (Mark 7:1-9)
In these scriptures, there is a lot going on, including questions of authority. Herein, the scribes (which had travelled from Jerusalem -- a considerable distance away) had joined the Pharisees in finding fault with Jesus' disciples. They had witnessed some of Jesus' disciples eat bread with unwashed hands. Of course, the condemnation was not really about the unwashed hands, but rather that Jesus' disciples would not submit to the man-made authority of the traditional church. To address this, the scribes and Pharisees criticized the disciples actions to Jesus, "for the Pharisees and all the Jews, except they wash [their] hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders." (Mark 7:3)
Putting this into a 'then' perspective, we understand that when the scribes and Pharisees would come from the market, except they wash, they could not eat. "And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups and pots, brazen vessels and of tables." (Mark 7:4)
Thus, because the disciples had not submitted to the religious customs (traditions?) of the day, the scribes and Pharisees labelled the disciples as unworthy; defiled. In actuality, these wanted to interpose their authority and the traditions of the elders onto the disciples bringing them into bondage. But they did not stop there. These brought a complaint to the disciples' Master, hoping that in doing so, Jesus would force His disciples to conform to the rites and ceremonies of the church.
This is consistent throughout the gospels, wherein, as Jesus oft told the scribes and Pharisees they have a zeal, but their zeal is in the wrong game. These focused on the authority (antiquity?) of the church with its add-on, man-made religious dogma, referring often to the councils and fathers for their knowledge, but not for the very same Lord Jesus who stood in front of them.
This is consistent throughout the gospels, wherein, as Jesus oft told the scribes and Pharisees they have a zeal, but their zeal is in the wrong game. These focused on the authority (antiquity?) of the church with its add-on, man-made religious dogma, referring often to the councils and fathers for their knowledge, but not for the very same Lord Jesus who stood in front of them.
So the Pharisees and scribes then ask Jesus, "Why walk not Thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders but eat bread with unwashed hands?" (Mark 7:5)
As we know from this example, the disciples were not willing to submit to the authority (and power) of an earthly church. Neither were the disciples willing to conform to the ceremonious traditions of men. But this is not the only issue going on. The scribes and Pharisees did not come to Jesus to ask Him why the disciples do not do as they do but instead, "Why walk not Thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders?" (Mark 7:5)
These wanted the disciples to comply with their man-made authority ... the traditions of men. But instead, Jesus frees His disciples from man-made customs and traditions of men, because as we know, He came to set the captives free. In other words, when Jesus shed His precious, holy blood on a cross for you and I, He not only set aside the law (as some would have us believe) but Jesus fulfilled the law, delegating the law only as a "schoolmaster" to bring us to Christ. In other words, the law was so that we would recognize that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and as such, we needed a Saviour. The veil was torn from heaven to earth, from top to bottom because the Lord our God made a way of salvation for us, when there was no way. But I digress somewhat.
Note that the Lord is not saying we should not wash our hands (for cleanliness' sake) but that by making a religion out of cleansing the outside, we miss the point of His salvation message -- wherein the Lord cleanses us on the inside. At the end of the day, washing our hands will not save our souls.
But there is yet another message in Mark 7. That is, the religious of that day did not stop with compliance in washing one's hands before eating but added "the washing of cups, and pots, and brazen vessels, and of tables" as a means of purifying the Jews. (Mark 7:4; Matthew 23:25; John 2:6) Sadly, we see much of the same mentality within the walls of the modern day religious culture today. We who believe are being asked to submit to religious impositions and traditions as if these complied with the life-giving Word the Lord gave us.
Because religious pomp and ceremony, and rules applied without any scriptural foundation, combined with the traditions of men cannot ever supersede the grace and kindness that led to the Dayspring visiting His people. That God Himself would take on the form of man so that we might have everlasting life in Him.
"He was in the world and the world was made by Him but the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11; I Timothy 3:16)
"To wit, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself ..." (II Corinthians 5:19)
For clarity, we are not suggesting that the disciples were not aware of the religious customs, but rather, the disciples were not going to submit to an authority outside of their Lord God and Saviour. [Taking this thought one step further, perhaps, the disciples were aware that the scribes and Pharisees were watching them, looking for a reason to condemn (criticize) their Lord and Master, and thus, decidedly took advantage of their opportunity to show their Christ-given liberty. Mark doesn't specifically allude to this.]
Taking the washing/cleansing theme one step further -- from the earthly to the spiritual, we need to also understand that we are incapable of cleansing ourselves from sin, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Rather, each and every one of us need to repent of our sin, be water baptized in the precious, Holy Name of the Lord Jesus -- in answer of a good conscience toward Him -- and to receive His gift of the Holy Ghost -- His righteousness dwelling within. (Acts 2:36-41; Acts 10:44-48; Romans 6:3-4; I Peter 3:21)
It is here that the Pharisees and scribes erred, because their heart desires were about building an earthly kingdom, and not seeking the Kingdom of God with all their hearts, souls, minds and strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31)
What does Jesus say to them?
"Well hath Esaias [Isaiah] prophesied of you hypocrites; as it is written, "This people honours Me with [their] lips, but their heart is far from Me. Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, [ye] hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups; and many others such like things [ye] do." (Mark 7:6-8)
Did Jesus stop there? No, He continued telling them that "full well, ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition ... making the Word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered, and many such like things do ye."
Here the religious scribes and Pharisees were presenting themselves as holy and yet this was not their heart motive. Some might even suggest that this was the furthest thing in their minds. Nevertheless, the point is the Lord God in whom they claimed to desire (worship) was not their priority but rather, their religious, ceremonious exercises. As a consequence, these worshipped God in vain. Thus, Jesus is reproving them for replacing His teachings with their own "cleansing" religious pomp, ceremony and traditions of men (or as commentator Matthew Henry states -- the inventions and injunctions of their elders and fathers).
Jesus calls them hypocrites, for "making the Word of God of none effect through your tradition which ye have delivered; and many such like things do ye." (Mark 7:13)
These wanted the disciples to comply with their man-made authority ... the traditions of men. But instead, Jesus frees His disciples from man-made customs and traditions of men, because as we know, He came to set the captives free. In other words, when Jesus shed His precious, holy blood on a cross for you and I, He not only set aside the law (as some would have us believe) but Jesus fulfilled the law, delegating the law only as a "schoolmaster" to bring us to Christ. In other words, the law was so that we would recognize that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and as such, we needed a Saviour. The veil was torn from heaven to earth, from top to bottom because the Lord our God made a way of salvation for us, when there was no way. But I digress somewhat.
Note that the Lord is not saying we should not wash our hands (for cleanliness' sake) but that by making a religion out of cleansing the outside, we miss the point of His salvation message -- wherein the Lord cleanses us on the inside. At the end of the day, washing our hands will not save our souls.
But there is yet another message in Mark 7. That is, the religious of that day did not stop with compliance in washing one's hands before eating but added "the washing of cups, and pots, and brazen vessels, and of tables" as a means of purifying the Jews. (Mark 7:4; Matthew 23:25; John 2:6) Sadly, we see much of the same mentality within the walls of the modern day religious culture today. We who believe are being asked to submit to religious impositions and traditions as if these complied with the life-giving Word the Lord gave us.
Because religious pomp and ceremony, and rules applied without any scriptural foundation, combined with the traditions of men cannot ever supersede the grace and kindness that led to the Dayspring visiting His people. That God Himself would take on the form of man so that we might have everlasting life in Him.
"He was in the world and the world was made by Him but the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11; I Timothy 3:16)
"To wit, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself ..." (II Corinthians 5:19)
For clarity, we are not suggesting that the disciples were not aware of the religious customs, but rather, the disciples were not going to submit to an authority outside of their Lord God and Saviour. [Taking this thought one step further, perhaps, the disciples were aware that the scribes and Pharisees were watching them, looking for a reason to condemn (criticize) their Lord and Master, and thus, decidedly took advantage of their opportunity to show their Christ-given liberty. Mark doesn't specifically allude to this.]
Taking the washing/cleansing theme one step further -- from the earthly to the spiritual, we need to also understand that we are incapable of cleansing ourselves from sin, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Rather, each and every one of us need to repent of our sin, be water baptized in the precious, Holy Name of the Lord Jesus -- in answer of a good conscience toward Him -- and to receive His gift of the Holy Ghost -- His righteousness dwelling within. (Acts 2:36-41; Acts 10:44-48; Romans 6:3-4; I Peter 3:21)
It is here that the Pharisees and scribes erred, because their heart desires were about building an earthly kingdom, and not seeking the Kingdom of God with all their hearts, souls, minds and strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31)
What does Jesus say to them?
"Well hath Esaias [Isaiah] prophesied of you hypocrites; as it is written, "This people honours Me with [their] lips, but their heart is far from Me. Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, [ye] hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups; and many others such like things [ye] do." (Mark 7:6-8)
Did Jesus stop there? No, He continued telling them that "full well, ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition ... making the Word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered, and many such like things do ye."
Here the religious scribes and Pharisees were presenting themselves as holy and yet this was not their heart motive. Some might even suggest that this was the furthest thing in their minds. Nevertheless, the point is the Lord God in whom they claimed to desire (worship) was not their priority but rather, their religious, ceremonious exercises. As a consequence, these worshipped God in vain. Thus, Jesus is reproving them for replacing His teachings with their own "cleansing" religious pomp, ceremony and traditions of men (or as commentator Matthew Henry states -- the inventions and injunctions of their elders and fathers).
Jesus calls them hypocrites, for "making the Word of God of none effect through your tradition which ye have delivered; and many such like things do ye." (Mark 7:13)
And again, in another place, the Lord saith, "And they come unto thee as the people cometh and they sit before thee as My people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goes after their covetousness." (Ezekiel 33:31)
Continuing in Mark 7, Jesus then calls the people unto Himself, saying, "Hearken unto Me every one of you and understand. There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear." (Mark 7:14-16)
And when He was entered into the house from the people, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. And He saith unto them, "Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without enters into the man, it cannot defile him; because it enters not into his heart but into the belly and goes out into the draught, purging all meats?"
And He said, "That which comes out of the man, that defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness; all these evil things come from within and defile the man." (Mark 7:17-23)
As apostle Paul later attested-- "... and profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers." (Galatians 1:14)
Although Mark moves on in his writings, we (thankfully!) know the rest of the story. That God loved us so much that He willingly paid the price for our sins on the cross. "And ye shall call His Name JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins ... Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us." (Matthew 1:21-23)
So, to recap -- "Why walk not Thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders?" (Mark 7:5) Because when we who profess to believe receive the doctrine of Christ, we (like Jesus' disciples) have more understanding than the religious teachers (and ancients) because the King of kings and Lord of lords dwells within our hearts. He is leading and guiding our steps. The focus of our hearts dwelling on our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ. (Hebrews 6:1-2; II John 1:9; Acts 20:28)
In closing, a timely instruction from David the psalmist -- "I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on Your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey Your precepts." (Psalms 119:99-100)
Thus, let's not permit our faith to start and stop with the whims of a religious culture, but rather become intentional about opening our New Testament and studying His Word -- for our edification and learning.
"And for this cause, He is the mediator of the New Testament that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance." (Hebrews 9:15, 16-18)
Stand in the offering plate.
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