Mark 7:1-13
1 The Pharisees and some of the scribes *gathered to Him after they came from Jerusalem,
2 and saw that some of His disciples were eating their bread with unholy hands, that is, unwashed.
3 (For the Pharisees and all the other Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thereby holding firmly to the tradition of the elders;
4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they completely cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received as traditions to firmly hold, such as the washing of cups, pitchers, and copper pots.)
5 And the Pharisees and the scribes *asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk in accordance with the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unholy hands?”
6 But He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far away from Me.
7 ‘And in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8 Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”
9 He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.
10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘The one who speaks evil of father or mother, is certainly to be put to death’;
11 but you say, ‘If a person says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is, given to God),’
12 you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother;
13 thereby invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”
Dispute Concerning Cleansing (1)
The oral law
Today’s passage is challenging for the Gentiles to understand. Therefore, Mark attempts to provide detailed explanations about Jewish traditions for the Gentile readers. It includes practices such as cleansing oneself after returning from the marketplace before eating and the strict customs related to purifying utensils. (1) The Pharisees emphasized the “tradition of the elders,” which refers to the oral laws (the Mishnaic law). Among the Pharisees, the oral law held authority equal to or greater than the written Mosaic Law. The dispute over the Sabbath essentially boiled down to whether one should follow the oral law or the Mosaic law. (2) The Pharisees made it a practice to wash their hands before meals. This was not for hygiene but for ritualistic reasons. The tradition was to wash their hands from the fingertips to the elbow. However, Mosaic Law did not demand such strict practices. Seeing Jesus and His disciples not adhering to the oral tradition, the Pharisees challenged them, saying, “Why do Your disciples not walk in accordance with the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unholy hands?”
Jesus’ answer
Jesus saw through their deception and responded by quoting Isaiah, saying, “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me.” In other words, the Pharisees’ hearts were far away from God, and their worship was not acceptable to Him. There is a command to honor parents in the Mosaic Law. However, among the Pharisees, there were many who refused to care for their aging parents or provide material support. In such cases, they would say, “It is Corban,” meaning, “That is, given to God.” Once declared as Corban, the wealth could be used for personal needs or donated to the temple but could not be given to others. This allowed them to legally evade their responsibilities toward their parents. God sees our hearts. He is waiting for people who will “worship the Father in spirit and truth” (John 4:23). Let us worship the Father in spirit and truth now.
Today's prayer
Father God of Jesus Christ, please remove the Pharisaic deception from my heart. Draw me near to You with spirit and truth. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.