MARK 7:1-23
Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. Vs 1
And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. Vs 2
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. Vs 3
And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. Vs 4
Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? Vs 5
He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Vs 6
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Vs 7
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. Vs 8
And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. Vs 9
For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: Vs 10
But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. Vs 11
And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Vs 12
Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Vs 13
And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: Vs 14
There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. Vs 15
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. Vs 16
And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. Vs 17
And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Vs 18
Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? Vs 19
And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. Vs 20
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Vs 21
Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: Vs 22
All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
The Pharisees, by their attitude and questioning had thought that eating food with ceremonially unclean hands defiled a man. Vs 23
We see from the above passage that Jesus makes it plain that the real source of all impurity is within. It is the matter of the heart and not the hands. We need to keep an absolutely clean heart if we do not want to be defiled.
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word- Psalms 119:9
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh - Galatians 5:16
These scriptures have given us a clear picture of how we can make ourselves clean, It is not by bathing in Hot water or drinking detergent. Inner cleanliness is a state of the heart free from lust of the flesh, eyes and the pride of life. You can only have inner cleanliness when you walk in the Spirit and walk according to the word of God.
In vs 9-13, Jesus gives an example of how men reject God's commandments in order to hold fast to tradition. Tradition is part of human life, but we must never give it the same authority as the word of God. Instead, we must examine all our traditions in the light of God's written word.
Where there is conflict with scripture, if we are to be truly Christians, all cultures and traditions must give way to God's word.
PRAYER:
Lord, grant me grace to walk faithfully in the light of your word.
REFLECTION:
What is the place of Bible in your day to day life?
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