JESUS REBUKES THE PHARISEES

Mark 7:1-23 / Keywords 7:15

Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.' "

7:1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, 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.[a])

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 defiled 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 merely human rules.’[b]

8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

9 And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe[c] your own traditions! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’[d] and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’[e] 11 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— 12 then you no longer let them do anything for their 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.”

14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” [16] [f]

17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19 For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)

20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

Footnotes

a. Mark 7:4 Some early manuscripts pitchers, kettles and dining couches

b. Mark 7:7 Isaiah 29:13

c. Mark 7:9 Some manuscripts set up

d. Mark 7:10 Exodus 20:12; Deut. 5:16

e. Mark 7:10 Exodus 21:17; Lev. 20:9

f. Mark 7:16 Some manuscripts include here the words of 4:23.

1. Jesus rebukes the Pharisees’ hypocrisy (1-13)

Again, the Pharisees came to challenge Jesus’ ministry. This time they publicly denounced Jesus’ disciples for being unclean. In defending his disciples, Jesus pointed out the Pharisees’ spiritual problem based on Scripture. Historically, those who legalistically follow the law and traditions have no room in their hearts for God. Their worship is based on outward things that burden people and twist the true intentions of the Law. Essentially, they are corrupted by greed and power.

 

2. Jesus teaches what is unclean (14-23)

When Jesus resumed teaching the crowds, he made a clear distinction between what is clean and unclean to undo the Pharisees’ legalistic influence. He explained that it is what comes from a man’s sinful heart that makes him unclean. No amount of bacteria can damage a man because one’s soul is destroyed by evil desires. Men need to focus on their sin problems and repent from their hearts.

 

Prayer Lord, help me to have a pure heart and a genuine, repentant faith that guards my soul from dirty sins.

One Word God desires a clean heart