Mark 7:5-13 (NKJV) 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”
6 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.
7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”
9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother’; and, He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
V5 “Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” These troublemakers traveled to where Jesus was to observe Him and find every law Jesus breaks. However, the laws these religious men are enforcing are man’s laws, not God’s. They pose a seemingly innocent question about not washing hands. The ceremonial washing of the Pharisees extends the idea of clean/undefiled and unclean/defiled. It is a washing just in case one became ceremonially unclean by touching something that a Gentile in the market might have touched. Moses giving God’s law does not mention it. Jesus wants to clarify their error. The Pharisees love their laws more than God’s laws.
V6 “He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.” No need to accuse Jesus of not speaking plainly for He calls them hypocrites, which they are. The importance is the heart, not just lip service. The heart that Jesus speaks of is our immaterial person. The Bible declares the heart to be evil, unclean, and in need of washing (Genesis 6:5, Matthew 15:18-19, and Ecclesiastes 9:3). What is needed is (Deuteronomy 30:6 (EHV)) “The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, with the result that you will live.”
V7 “And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” The only doctrines (laws, beliefs, teachings, etc.) found in the Bible are the only ones approved by God, who is the King and Lawgiver. If a person wants to follow such human regulations, so be it, but not to require it for holiness, salvation, or closeness to God.
V8 “For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” Lay aside means God’s law has less importance than Pharisee’s law. The Greek word for washing is (G909) βαπτισμός baptismós, which means:
- (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged – Little Kittel)) “The Meaning of báptō and baptízō. báptō, ‘to dip in or under,’ ‘to dye,’ ‘to immerse,’ ‘to sink,’ ‘to drown,’ ‘to bathe,’ ‘wash.’ The NT uses báptō only in the literal sense, e.g., ‘to dip’ (Lk. 16:24), ‘to dye’ (Rev. 19:13), and baptízō only in a cultic sense, mostly ‘to baptize.’”
- (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged – Little Kittel)) “baptismós, báptisma. ‘Immersion’ or ‘baptism’; baptismós denotes only the act, báptisma (not found outside the NT) the institution, baptismoí in Mk. 7:4 are Levitical purifications and in Heb. 6:2 all kinds of lustrations, báptisma is the specific term for John’s baptism (Mt. 3:7; Mk. 11:30; Lk. 7:29; Acts 1:22; 10:37), which is a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins (Mk. 1:4); it is also a term for Christian baptism, which is connected with Christ’s death in Rom. 6:4 and with the atonement in 1 Pet. 3:21, and is a basis of unity in Eph. 4:5. Christ’s death is itself his báptisma in Mk. 10:38-39; Lk. 12:50. As a special term, perhaps coined in the NT, báptisma shows us that Christian baptism is regarded as new and unique.”
All their purifying is not necessary. Items are in some cases dipped into water for cleansing in the Old Testament, but it does not mention anything specific as the Pharisees used it. See Leviticus 11:32.
V9 “He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.” He exposes their priority. Their priority is the traditions.
V10 “For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother”; and, He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.” Jesus gives another example to help them understand. This is the fifth commandment.
V11 “But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God)…” To escape the commandment of God, these Pharisees would declare all their resources as dedicated to God so they could not help their needy parents. Of course, they used it for themselves. It is a cheap excuse to disobey.
(Holman Commentary) “Jesus then illustrated how the fifth commandment was broken by the Pharisees in observing the “traditions of the elders.” Part of honoring one’s mother and father in the Jewish family was to take care of their needs when they got older. Yet, one of the ingenious ways to get around this command was to pronounce something as Corban. The word Corban literally means “an offering or gift dedicated to God.” Here is how it worked.
“According to this tradition, if a person pronounced over any property or money the word Corban, it could not be given to any other person—even your parents. But here was the real kicker. The money or property dedicated to God could still be used by its owner for personal gain and gratification. Therefore, by keeping the traditions of the elders a person was breaking one of the Ten Commandments—God’s law.”
V12 “…then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother…” These Pharisees had found a “legal” way to prevent helping their parents. This evil creativity.
V13 “…making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.” They feel they do not have to obey God’s fifth commandment with a religious excuse.
We learn:
- God’s laws have a higher and greater authority than human laws.
- God speaks the truth.
- God exposes error. Compare Ephesians 5:11.
Questions:
- What is our priority?
- How do we respond when confronted with error?