Mark 7:1-4 (NKJV) Defilement Comes from Within
(Matt. 15:1–20)
1 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.
V1 “Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem.” It seems that these religious leaders came for the purpose of finding fault with Jesus. They had Jesus Derangement Syndrome. They began observing closely, for they are the religious police of that time. Their greatest goal was to destroy Jesus. A principle is being taught. If we serve God, we might suffer but not be destroyed until our ministry is completed.
V2 “Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.” This is an accusation to destroy Jesus. There is nothing in Mosaic law forbidding this. The forbidding is from their ungodly additions to the Law. See Isaiah 29:13.
Utley comments: “This was not hygienic, but religious (cf. Mark 7:4). Ceremonial purity was a very serious matter to them (cf. Luke 11:38; Matthew 15:2). It was spelled out in specific terms in the Talmud. The controversy was over the Oral Traditions, which interpreted OT texts.”
Warren W. Wiersbe offers some reasons: “Why would such a seemingly trivial matter upset these religious leaders? Why would they feel compelled to defend their ceremonial washings? For one thing, these leaders resented it when our Lord openly flaunted their authority…Whenever the Jews practiced these washings, they declared that they were “special” and that other people were “unclean”! If a Jew went to the marketplace to buy food, he might be “defiled” by a Gentile or (God forbid!) a Samaritan. This tradition had begun centuries before to remind the Jews that they were God’s elect people and therefore had to keep themselves separated. However, a good reminder had gradually degenerated into an empty ritual, and the result was pride and religious isolation.”
V3 “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.” Note, it was holding to the tradition of the elders, not Mosaic law. The King of the universe and of Israel had not given this law, so they were adding to it. We must be careful as well, for some Christian rituals are looked upon in the same way, and that is wrong. See Proverbs 30:6.
V4 “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.” They were so careful about outward holiness but paid little attention to inward holiness. Holiness is 1) character attitude seeking to be living and having attitudes that please God, 2) submissive to God’s will, 3) seeking to live according to God’s laws. Christians are being conformed to the character traits (communicable) of Jesus (Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18, and Romans 12:1-2).
We learn:
- Outward holiness is OK, but what God requires in inward holiness.
- Not to add to God’s rules.
Questions:
- Is outward holiness important?
- What kind of holiness do we want and live? Is it outward only, inward only, or both?