Read: Mark 6:53-7:23 NLT – After they had crossed the lake, they – Bible Gateway
“So the Pharisees and teachers of religious law asked him, ‘Why don’t your disciples follow our age-old tradition? They eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony.’” Mark 7:5 NLT
Jesus and His disciples arrived at Gennesaret on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee after a windy night walking on the water and calming the wind. The disciples were amazed of what they just witnessed even though they have seen Jesus perform many miracles, but they were slow to learn, as we all are at times when we should already know the truth. A familiar scene develops as Jesus and His companions brought the boat to shore. Immediately, the people recognized Him. The word spread, good news travels fast! Soon people were coming from all over the area when they heard Jesus was in the Gennesaret region. They heard of Jesus’ miracles of healing and were rushing to get near Him. “They ran throughout the whole area, carrying sick people on mats to wherever they heard he was.” (Mk.6:55 nlt) As Jesus walked through the countryside and in the marketplaces of various villages, people would bring their sick begging Him to let them touch the fringe of His robe. Mark records that all who touched Him were healed. The news of Jesus was once again rapidly expanding forcing another visit by the Pharisees from Jerusalem.
“One day some Pharisees and teachers of religious law arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus.” (Mk.7:1 nlt) They got right to work observing and taking notes of Jesus’ activities and those of His disciples. The Pharisees took notice that the disciples did not perform the ceremonial hand washing before eating. This was a tradition of the elders. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary explains, “The tradition of the elders was the unwritten corpus of commands and teachings of honored rabbis of the past, a body of 613 rules designed to regulate every aspect of life.” (1) The Pharisees considered these commands binding, and the people were to obey. They questioned Jesus why His disciples did not observe the traditions of the elders. What they were really saying was ‘why are you teaching your disciples to disobey the traditions of the elders?’ This command had nothing to do with dirty hands but was a ceremonial rinsing if one became defiled by touching a Gentile or an unclean person while out in public. They were claiming an inward cleansing by outward action, which they made up. Jesus tells the Pharisees they have it all backwards.
Jesus calls them hypocrites, and then quotes Isaiah the prophet, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’ (Mk.7:6-7 nlt) Jesus notes how they deliberately ignore God’s laws to elevate their own laws. He uses the example of those who refuse to honor their parents by not caring for them, claiming their income has been vowed to God. The Pharisees ruled that money given to God could not be used for any other purpose. They used Numbers 30:2 as their defense, “A man who makes a vow to the LORD or makes a pledge under oath must never break it. He must do exactly what he said he would do.” (nlt) The traditions of the elders were overriding God’s law to apply their law. Jesus then tells them this is only one example of the many non-binding laws they have over the Lord’s binding laws in Scripture.
Jesus calls the crowd to Himself to bring them back into conformity with Scripture. People in our day, and sadly some churches need to bring back what the Bible teaches. There are misguided souls who follow the traditions of churches and the oracle preachers with a present personality because it requires only a mechanical response. No change of heart or lifestyle is necessary, just follow the rules and whatever feels good. Jesus tells the people, “All of you listen, and try to understand. It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.” (Mk.7:14-15 nlt) He explains deeper to His disciples that food consumed with or without dirty hands cannot defile you for it goes in and comes out. That does not defile you. It is what is lying inside your heart that defiles you. Jesus says, “For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.” (Mk.7:21-23 nlt)
Age-old traditions will not save you if they are man-made laws added throughout the course of history with no Biblical support or reference. Added prophecies and teachings not included in Scripture preached by popular ministers today will not save you either. It is only what God recorded in His Holy Word. The saving redeeming grace provided by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins and acceptance of that by faith is the only age-old tradition that will save you.
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Eph.2:8-9 nlt)
(1) The Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Chicago: Moody Press, 1990. Pg 1002
Word for the Soul 