Mark 7:1-23
In this week’s reading of the Gospel of Mark, Mark 7:1-23 is a passage in the New Testament where Jesus addresses the Pharisees and scribes regarding ritual purity and the true source of defilement. Here are the key points:
Verses 1-5: The Pharisees' Challenge
Observation by Pharisees and Scribes: Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem notice that some of Jesus' disciples eat with "unclean" hands, not following the traditional ceremonial washing.
Questioning Jesus: They question Jesus on why His disciples do not follow the traditions of the elders, specifically the ceremonial handwashing before eating.
Verses 6-13: Jesus' Response
Quoting Isaiah: Jesus responds by quoting Isaiah, calling the Pharisees hypocrites for honoring God with their lips while their hearts are far from Him (Isaiah 29:13).
Condemnation of Tradition over Commandments: He criticizes them for holding human traditions above God's commandments. Jesus specifically mentions the tradition of "Corban" (offering something to God which could have been used to support one's parents), showing how their traditions can nullify the word of God.
Verses 14-23: Teaching on True Defilement
Teaching the Crowd: Jesus calls the crowd to listen and understand that nothing outside a person can defile them by entering them; rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.
Explanation to Disciples: His disciples ask for clarification, and Jesus explains that food cannot defile a person because it does not enter the heart but the stomach and then goes out of the body. This implies that all foods are clean.
Source of Defilement: Jesus teaches that what comes from within a person, from their heart, is what defiles them. He lists evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly as things that come from inside and defile a person.
Themes and Takeaways
Tradition vs. Commandment: The passage emphasizes the distinction between human traditions and God's commandments, criticizing the elevation of the former over the latter.
Inner Purity: Jesus shifts the focus from external rituals to inner morality and purity, teaching that true defilement comes from within a person’s heart and mind, not from external sources.
Critique of Hypocrisy: Jesus' confrontation with the Pharisees highlights the danger of religious hypocrisy, where external observance masks a corrupt inner life.
It is amazing what we allow ourselves to get upset about in the church. If I leave out a creed or prayer during worship I will most likely receive about half a dozen emails/text messages from members upset with me for doing so. Sometimes it is unintentional and some times I choose to do so for the sake of adding something else to our worship experience. These messages don’t bother me. If I did it by mistake, I apologize. If I did it intentionally, I share my rationale. Many people value tradition and I understand that. What I don’t understand however is when tradition is place about commandment. The greatest commandment taught by Jesus (Matthew 22:34–40; Mark 12:28–34; Luke 10:25–28), is to love God with our whole heart, mind, and soul; then to love our neighbor as ourselves. Additionally, Jesus said that his commandment (John 15:12) is to love each other as Jesus loved us, a love that is selfless.
When we place tradition above love, we become just like the pharisees, hypocrites. We are as Jesus said, people honor him with our lips, but our hearts are far from him. We worship in vain; our teachings are merely human rules. What traditions have we placed above the commandment to love one another? Where have we become hypocrites for the sake of tradition?
In God’s grip,
Pastor Chuck Church
If you are reading the Gospel of Mark with Pastor Chuck this year, below is a short and simple guide to doing so for this week:
Prayer: Heavenly Father, your words expose my innermost thoughts and desires. I am an open book before you when I read your book. May your truths work as I read of your holiness, truth, and love. May the power of your word be known in my life so that I might genuinely have the abundant life you came to give. Amen.
Read: Mark 7:1-23
Questions to guide your thinking:
Verses 1-5: The Pharisees' Challenge
What traditions or rituals do I follow in my faith or daily life?
How do I react when others do not adhere to the same traditions or rituals as I do?
Am I more focused on external observances than on the internal state of my heart?
Verses 6-13: Jesus' Response
In what ways might I be honoring God with my lips while my heart is far from Him?
Are there traditions or practices in my life that might be overshadowing the core commandments of God?
How do I balance respect for tradition with the essence of God’s commandments?
Can I identify any ways in which I might be invalidating God’s word through my actions or traditions?
Verses 14-23: Teaching on True Defilement
What do I consider to be sources of defilement in my life? Are these internal or external?
How do I understand the relationship between food, purity, and spirituality in my own context?
What thoughts, behaviors, or attitudes within me could be considered defiling?
Am I willing to examine and address the negative aspects of my heart that Jesus lists (e.g., evil thoughts, greed, malice)?
How do I guard my heart against the things that defile, as described by Jesus?
Themes and Takeaways
What are some examples of religious hypocrisy that I have witnessed or experienced, and how did they affect me?
How do I ensure that my faith practices align with genuine devotion rather than mere tradition?
In what ways can I cultivate inner purity and morality in my daily life?
How do I discern and prioritize God’s commandments over human traditions?
What steps can I take to ensure that my worship and faith expressions are sincere and heart-felt?
Application to Daily Life
How can I apply Jesus’ teachings about inner purity to my interactions with others?
What practical changes can I make to shift my focus from external rituals to inner transformation?
How do I address and rectify instances where I have allowed tradition to overshadow genuine spiritual growth?
