Mark 7:1-13 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Mark 7:1-13. Let’s go!
Mark 7:1-13 (NIV)
1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and
2 saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were “unclean,” that is, unwashed.
3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.
4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)
5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with ‘unclean’ hands?”
6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’
8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.”
9 And he said to them: “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!
10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’
11 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God),
12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother.
13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”
On verses 1-13: Jesus had no problem with washing your hands before eating per se. Rather Jesus’ problem was with the Pharisees and teachers and how they put more focus on following their man-made traditions (like “wash your hands before you eat”) than obeying God’s commands. As Jesus says in verse 8, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!”
For example, according to their tradition, the Pharisees and teachers of the law taught their disciples that they could take the money that they would usually give to your aging parents, call it “Corban” (an offering to God), and therefore be exempt from having to give that money to their parents. Jesus showed how this practice was actually violating God’s command to honour one’s parents. Quoting Isaiah 29:13, Jesus likens this practice to worshiping in vain, giving worship that actually means nothing because it’s following a man-made rule that doesn’t actually honour God.
What can we learn from this?
1. Don’t let following traditions get in the way of obeying God’s Word. Are there any traditions you carry on that seem spiritual but are not from God’s Word and actually violate God’s commands? For example, it causes my blood to boil when old church goers habitually hang out amongst themselves, oblivious to the new people who have stepped into the church. To me that tradition of “fellowshipping with your friends” while ignoring those who are new to church actually goes against God’s commands to love your neighbour as yourself and to show hospitality to strangers to God’s house. Instead, welcome those who are new while you have the opportunity to do so. Make them feel at home in God’s house. You can always talk with your old friends later.
2. Worship is not worship if it’s not from the heart. God doesn’t want mindless, heartless worship where we go through the motions of worship without actually trying to draw near to God. So whenever you come to God, whether it’s in a church service, your own personal time with God, or a small group, check your heart. Make it your goal to give God your attention and your affection, as if to say, “Jesus, I’m here to focus on You, to love You and to do what pleases You.”
3. Don’t be so quick to judge and criticize. Check yourself first. The Pharisees and teachers of the law came from Jerusalem to judge Jesus, to find things to criticize and complain about Jesus. In the end, it was they who got exposed. Often those who quickly criticize others can only do so because they are oblivious to their own faults. As Matthew 7:3-5 says:
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Father, I pray that I would not be so quick to judge and criticize others, lest I prove just how foolish and blind I am. I pray I would not let man-made traditions get in the way of obeying Your Word. Since worship is a matter of the heart, may I always check my ego at the door when I worship with others and come before You with a humble heart. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
