Mark 7: 1 – 23
Did You Wash Your Hands?
Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. 2 Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” 6 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. 7 And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men —the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” 9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.” 14 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” 17 When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. 18 So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?” 20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
Two of the three apostles who traveled with the Lord Jesus Christ and were authors of Gospels covered our Lord’s words that He shared here. Besides Mark who received his information directly from the apostle Peter, the apostle Matthew also wrote about this teaching.
Matthew 15:1-20, “Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” 3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— 6 then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” 10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” 12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” 15 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.” 16 So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”
When you put both these Gospels together they say the same thing to a large degree. There are a couple of things different which I will point out shortly but these differences do not create any major issues.
If you have ever see the movie ‘Fiddler on the roof’, I would suggest you do so. It is a great production. One of the songs that I like from it is ‘Tradition’. Here the lead male sings, then the woman, the sons, and then the daughters expressing their views of ‘tradition’.
TEVYE]
Tradition, tradition! Tradition!
Tradition, tradition! Tradition!
[TEVYE & PAPAS]
Who, day and night, must scramble for a living,
Feed a wife and children, say his daily prayers?
And who has the right, as master of the house,
To have the final word at home?
The Papa, the Papa! Tradition.
The Papa, the Papa! Tradition.
[GOLDE & MAMAS]
Who must know the way to make a proper home,
A quiet home, a kosher home?
Who must raise the family and run the home,
So Papa's free to read the holy books?
The Mama, the Mama! Tradition!
The Mama, the Mama! Tradition!
[SONS]
At three, I started Hebrew school. At ten, I learned a trade.
I hear they've picked a bride for me. I hope she's pretty.
The son, the son! Tradition!
The son, the son! Tradition!
[DAUGHTERS]
And who does Mama teach to mend and tend and fix,
Preparing me to marry whoever Papa picks?
The daughter, the daughter! Tradition!
The daughter, the daughter! Tradition!
Are ‘Traditions’ good or bad? Now that is a good question to ponder before answering. As human beings we cannot get away from having them play an important role in how we do things, especially when we are addressing religious issues. I think the major reason why we so heavily depend on traditions is because we are sinful. Do you know what the word ‘Religion’ means? It means to re-link. Acting in our flesh we try to re-establish a relationship with God. Somehow, in our ignorance we try to somehow think that by doing certain things or ceremonies Jehovah Elyon – The Lord Most High – Is going to be impressed. Therefore, if we act pious or perform certain acts that others before have done then they become part of our religious ceremonies. These ‘traditions’ are in actuality worthless, except for the fact that it makes us feel good.
Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. 2 Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”
All through our lives and generations one thing parents learn is to always ask their kids, ‘Did you wash your hands?’ Now for some people who are new believers let me say up front that our Lord is not one of those outdoorsmen who frown on washing. No, what we are talking about is all the ritual actions religious people imposed upon others.
I did a little research and came up with some information relative to ritual hand washing. Just think about this information and consider if you could always maintain compliance with just this one traditional rule.
The ritual hand washing is called Netilat yadayim ("Raising [after ritually washing] the hands"), also known as Mayim Rishonim. which is done with a blessing, prior to eating any bread with a meal. Before you sit down to eat a meal with bread, you are to wash your hands and make a special blessing. Go to the kitchen, or the nearest sink in the house. Fill a large cup with water. Pass the cup to your left hand and pour three times over your right hand. Repeat by pouring on your left hand. As you wipe your hands recite the blessing: Baruch atah A-donoy, Elo-heinu Melech Ha’Olam, asher kidshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu al netilat yadayim.
Now this is just one traditional ceremony. Just think if you were required to memorize all the various imposed religious traditions. Boy would that be hard to do and it would also be a pain in the neck.
Please note that all these religious guys came out of Jerusalem just hoping to find something that they could complain about. Suppose you were out camping and these religious zealots jump out of the bushes complaining that you did not wash your hands properly. Most likely if you had your shotgun ready a few of them would be hightailing it back to Jerusalem with a little buckshot in the behinds.
6 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. 7 And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men —the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” 9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
If you look at Matthew’s account of this teaching you will note these words - 4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’
Now how does this relate to the Lord’s point of ‘Corban’? What we all know as a ‘no brainer’ is the fact that we should take care of our parents when they get old. You see these religious hypocrites would say that all their money is dedicated to the Lord so they cannot take care of their parents. Is not this in effect cursing their parents?
In the book of 2 Timothy chapter 3 Paul comments on this rotten attitude in the guise of religious hypocrisy, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.
14 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” 17 When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. 18 So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?” 20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
Why do you think the Lord made such a strong comment to Peter? Hey, after all, Peter, was just wanting to know the significance of the Lord’s remarks. Well, as I see it, what was Peter’s statement to the Lord in which Matthew reports? – ‘15 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.” 16 So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding?’
Before I give you my reasoning on this issue, I want to comment about our Precious Holy Spirits humor. Remember, that it was Matthew who wrote that it was Peter who asked the question regarding the Lord’s statement to the crowd. If you glance back in Matthew’s version of the little girl age 12 and the woman who suffered for 12 years, Matthew also reports that Peter spoke up against the Lord for His question on ‘who touched Him’. Now picture you are Peter and you are reading Matthew’s version of the gospel and sees how he is pointed out for saying the wrong things at the wrong time.
Look again at Mark’s version and remember that Peter is dictating his account of the event – ‘17 When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.’
Can you see what just happened? I can almost hear Peter speaking to Mark, ‘write down it was the ‘disciples’ that spoke. Peter in effect was saying, ‘don’t just blame me. All the other guys were saying the same thing also.’
I believe that the remark our Lord gave to His disciples - “Explain this parable to us.” 16 So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding?’ – was said because it was not a Parable. These guys have been with our Lord constantly. They have heard His Parables. In this situation our Lord Jesus Christ just gives an honest truthful explanation to the people on the worthless heavy burdens of traditions. They should have just realized this was the case. Our Lord wasn’t hiding some truth in a story.
You know something amazing is that the apostle Paul did not travel with the Lord while He was here on earth. As you remember from the book of Acts our Holy Adoni Yeshua interacted with Paul while he was on the road to Damascus for the purpose of arresting Christians. Yet, he gets the message fully our Lord conveyed to the disciples and crowd as we find out in Paul’s letter to the Galatians in chapter 5, “16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.’
If you stay close to the Lord in prayer and in His word, you will be given discernment, which will help you be able to understand the different ways. I leave you with the words of Proverbs 1, “ The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom,
Justice, judgment, and equity; 4 To give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion— 5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles.’
