Mark 7_1_23

This text opens with Jesus receiving a visit from members of the Sanhedrin, the Pharisees and Scribes had come the three day journey To Capernaum to check on Jesus. In the opening of this preaching series we established that the Sanhedrin after hearing of all the things pertaining to John the Baptist opened an investigation into him. A short time later Jesus came preaching “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel (MK 1:15). With Jesus’ message having messianic significance the Sanhedrin opened an investigation into Him. It did not take long for the Sanhedrin to find they opposed Jesus. First, they opposed Him on the basis of His teachings (Mk), His teaching was unlike the Rabbis of His day because He taught with the authority of Himself unlike the Rabbis who regurgitated what other teachers taught. Rabbis would say “Rabbi so and so says this,” but Jesus said, “I say.” Secondly they found fought with Jesus because He forgave sin, (Mk 2:5) this is something only God can do. Third, they opposed Jesus because He did not keep the Sabbath law as they saw fit, He allowed His disciples to eat grain they plucked as they walked through the fields and He healed a man with a withered hand. It was at this time they began to devise a plan to destroy Jesus (Mk 3:6). The religious ruling class came to an all out rejection of Jesus when they accused Him of working by the power of Satan, this visit to Capernaum was most likely one to gain more evidence against Jesus so that He could be condemned.

The Pharisees and Scribes noticed that Jesus’ disciples did not wash their hands before eating as Pharisaic Judaism demands. In Verse three Mark explains that the Pharisees and all Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, note that Mark explains Jewish customs unlike Matthew because he is writing to a Gentile audience who are unaware of the significance of these customs. In Pharisaic Judaism the Tradition of the Elders have the same authority as the written Law of God. These traditions were called the Oral Law, today these “Laws” are written down in what is called the Mishnah. These oral laws began shortly after the return from exile; the Jews believed they could avoid another exile by placing strict sub-laws around the Law. The idea was to create a fence around the Law to be certain the Law itself could not be broken. If they could not get to the Law then they could not break the Law. How sad is the fact that these sub-Laws took the place of the Law of God and led the people astray, and so it is with legalism!

The Outward Hypocrisy is Exposed Vs. 1-13

In these verses Jesus exposes the hypocrisy found in the religion of that day, it is sad to say that two thousand years later the Jews are still trapped by their man made religion. By outward appearance, one would think these men righteous and devoted to God but Jesus exposes their hearts by saying “your hearts are far away from me.

To begin, lets notice the important Adjective defiled in Verse 2, this is the Greek word koinos which means unclean or impure. This is the Idea of being ritually or ceremonially impure. The oral law instructed the Jew to wash their hands after leaving the market place just in case they had touched something unclean or common such as a Gentile or something a Gentile had touched. The tradition was to wash their hands from the elbow down in water from a pure vessel. The Jews were worried about holiness which means set apart, because God had instructed them to be holy as He is holy (Lev. 19:2) so they built a fence around the Law to keep them separated from anything unholy. However, this fence had made them unholy because *they were trusting in manmade tradition instead of the Holy One of God. This is a lesson the Apostle Paul teaches in Col. 2:8, See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. Notice that Jesus condemns not only the ceremonial hand cleansing but the other traditions associated with this, ie: washing of cups, pitchers, and copper pots (vs. 4). Jesus is not referring to good hygiene but bad theology.

The Pharisees and Scribes accuse the disciples and thus Jesus himself of being impure, or defiled because they had not washed their hands according to tradition. Note again, their idea of impurity is ceremonially unclean, to the Pharisaic Jew that is all that mattered. But Jesus, the Son of God in turn rebuked the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. Hypocrites found I verse six is the Greek adjective hypokritēs which means a duplicitous (deceitful) or insincere person. It is a theatric word meaning to *play the part. Jesus tells them plainly you are simply playing at being holy; your cleanliness is simply on the exterior because your laws have kept you from worshipping God from the heart. Jesus recites Isaiah 29:13 explaining that they are merely paying lip service because they are of defiled hearts and are leading people astray with their traditions thus there worship is worthless!

In Verse eight through thirteen Jesus gives explanation to His rebuke, notice the progression of what the strict observance of their tradition caused. First they laid aside God’s Word (vs. 8), the Greek verb aphiēmi (lay side) means to depart from or abandon. They departed from God’s instruction to follow man made instruction. Second, they rejected God’s Word, the Greek verb atheteōis used which means to regard as invalid (Not True). Finally, they robbed the Word of any power in their lives, none effect is the Greek Verb akyroō which means to invalidate the authority of, to nullify, or make void. They had abandoned God who chose them out of all the people groups of the world as His people to chase after a tradition that was originally meant to keep them close to Him and now it has pushed them far away.

Their life and righteousness were based upon the sub-laws they had come up with and these were the laws which they passed down from generation to generation (Vs. 13) contrary to God’s command of Loving Him foremost and diligently teaching His commands to the generations (Deut. 6:4-9).

Jesus gives an example of their hypocrisy, they were plotting to put Him to death because He did not keep the traditions, Jesus turns the table around saying you are the ones who should be put to death. He recalls the 5th Commandment; “Honor thy Father and thy Mother” (Ex. 20:12, Deut. 5:16), which included the fact that children were responsible for the welfare of their older parents if they became physically and/or mentally incapable of taking care of themselves. However, through their traditions they found ways around this command to their benefit. According to their tradition they could dedicate anything and everything in their possession to God as a sacrifice and keep it in their possession. They simply would raise their hand and say Corban, Greek noun korban meaning gift to God. By this they could either give it as to God as a sacrifice in the temple or keep it for their private use.

However, the Law of God when broken has it penalties, they wanted to kill Jesus but the Law demanded they be killed, He who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death (Ex. 21:17), If there is anyone who curses his father or his mother, he shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother, his bloodguiltiness is upon him. (Lev. 20:9)

This section closes with Jesus making the statement to the Pharisees, ‘and many such things as that.” (vs,13b) This is just one case of hypocrisy they could be indicted on, Jesus didn’t feel the need to bring up the entire list of their wrong doings and hypocrisies.

Application: What can we glean from this today? The Pharisees and Scribes were playing the part and taught the Jews to play the part. They were hypocrites who neglected, rejected, and Robbed God’s Word, their worship was empty and useless. They were concerned with ceremonies and rituals to make them holy and I wonder how many of us here today are in the same boat. We may not practice the same traditions of ceremonial washing or Sabbath day observances but still, for some of us our hearts are far away from God though by outward appearances we look pleasing to God. How many of us dress our best, come to church with a smile on our face, put a little money in the offering plate, say a little prayer, sing a little song because that is just what we do? Each day is to be a day of undefiled worship, we must focus on Him and respond to Him as He leads us. Living out His Word in our hearts as though it alone is the final authority of what we believe and do…. Because it is!

The inward defilement is exposed Vs. 14-15

Once Jesus concludes His rebuke of the Pharisees and Scribes He turns His address to the multitude which was around Him. Since Israel’s rejection of Jesus in Chapter 4, Jesus teaches in parables when the multitude is around (Vs. 17). As was Jesus’ custom He told the crowd listen up and understand what He was telling them. He told them “There is nothing outside the man which going into him can defile him; but the things which proceeds out of the man are what defile the man.” In this section of text Jesus uses the verb defile five times, it is very important to note that this is a different Greek word than the Pharisees and Scribes used. This word is koinoō not koinos as found in verse 2. This word comes for the same root but means to make unclean or impure. This is where careful study makes the difference; Jesus is speaking of Moral Impurity while the Pharisees were speaking of ritual impurity. He is saying that nothing that enters into a man can defile Him before God, defilement comes from the sin that is within man’s own heart. The Pharisees were concerned with a mere skin condition but Jesus says man has a sin condition that originates in their hearts. Food and anything on the food is digested and eliminated by the body.

It is sad to see that His disciples had a difficult time understanding this, Warren Wiersbie comments “How difficult it is for people to disengage themselves from religious traditions that have been so much a part of their lives!”

Then Mark adds a comment, “Thus He declared all foods clean.” Here again Mark is giving explanation to His Gentile audience because there was controversy floating around the Church that Gentiles must hold to the Law including the dietary Law (Lev. 11) in order to be a Christian. But the Law was fulfilled in Christ and now the Law finds its expression through Spirit-empowered lives. (Ro. 3:31).

This pericope reminds us of a great truth given to us by the hand of God through Jeremiah the Prophet, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? The issues we are faced with are not what people come in contact with but from what lies in their hearts. Jesus gives a list expressing how wicked the heart is and the sin which proceeds from man that has origin in man’s heart. Jesus uses the Greek noun kardia (heart) which means inner self including the volition (the faculty or power of ones will), mind, and the desires of man. Note that Jesus’ list begins with evil thoughts, first out of the heart comes the thought of sin, which if left un- checked becomes an action. David first desired Bathsheba, his thoughts were lustful towards her then he inquired about her, and then he sent for her.

Jesus’ list includes the following sins: adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness but are not limited to these acts. For other lists of sin see the following texts: Romans 1:29-32, Galatians 5:19-21, 1st Timothy 1:9-10, and 2nd Timothy 3:2-5.

There is no amount of external washing that can remove the defilement on the inside. King David teaches us this lesson in his Psalm of repentance, “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: And in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Ps. 51:6-10).

Application: True holiness is not an outward appearance rather it has always been a matter of the heart, a right relationship with God by faith. Only the blood of Jesus can cleans us from the sin which is in us and makes us holy unto God. The Jews wanted to keep rules but God demands faith. It is easy to get caught up in the traditions which have been handed down to us from the generations preceding us but nearly impossible to break with them. The Pharisees handed down these traditions and in doing so left the Word of God null and void, however it was God’s desire for His Word to be handed down from generation to generation so that all people could break from the defilement that rested in their hearts and come to love God with all their heart.

Mark 7:1-23“Purity and Religion”

Intro: In the forests of northern Europe and Asia lives little animal called the ermine, known for his snow-white fur in winter. He instinctively protects his white coat against anything that would soil it.

Fur hunters take advantage of this unusual trait of the ermine. They don’t set a snare to catch him, but instead they find his home, which is usually a cleft in a rock or a hollow in an old tree. They smear the entrance and interior with grime. Then the hunters set their dogs loose to find and chase the ermine. The frightened animal flees toward home but doesn’t enter because of the filth. Rather than soil his white coat, he is trapped by the dogs and captured while preserving his purity. For the ermine, purity is more precious than life.

In Pharisaic Judaism purity is a precious thing and in our text we find Jesus engaged in a lesson with Pharisees, Scribes, a multitude, and His disciple about true purity.

CPS: Purity is not a matter of a religious state but a matter of the heart that can take place only through faith in the Blood of Jesus.

The religious play the part1-13

The word English noun religion means the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. It is a particular system of faith and worship. Never has there been a more religious people than the Jews of Jesus’ day. CONTEXT….

The Pharisees Accusation (2,5)

The Pharisees and Scribes saw Jesus’ disciples eating bread with defiled hands. 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.

Jesus and His disciples are IMPURE (Defiled – koinos = NOUN, unclean, impure, unholy) CERMONIALLY UNCLEAN

Jesus and His disciples do not LIVE according to their Religion (Walk – peripateō = live)

Col. 2:8

The Lord’s Condemnation (6-13)

They were PLAYING THE PART (Hypocrites - hypokritēs = a deceitful and insincere person, Theatrical term)

ILL: I recall the Story of Little Johnny on one hot blistering day when they had guest over for dinner. His mom asked him to give thanks over the meal. But Johnny complained, “I don’t know what to say” his mother said “Oh just say what you hear me say.” Obediently Johnny bowed his head and mumbled, “Oh Lord, why did I invite these people over on a hot day like this.”

They Invalidated the Word of God

The Progression

They laid aside (Abandoned) God’s commands to lay a hold of their traditions. They Rejected (invalid or not true) the commandments to keep their traditions, They made the Word of God non effect (render useless)

The Illustration

Exodus 20:12 (Deut. 5:16) Corban

Exodus 21:17 (Lev. 20:9)

AND MANY OTHER SUCH LIKE THINGS YOU DO (8), AND MANY SUCH LIKE THINGS DO YE (13)

App: The Pharisses and Scribes had the outward appearance of devotion to God but their heart was far away from Him.

I wonder how many people today sitting in Churches across the land is playing the part, merely keeping a tradition alive. I wonder how many people have put on their Sunday best, come to Church with a smile on their face, sing a little song, say a little prayer, give a little money but their hearts are far away from God and their worship in worthless.

The pure have a clean heart 14-23

Defilement is a heart condition

Once Jesus rebukes the Pharisees and Scribes He turns to the crowd and teaches in a parable, in doing so He teaches that purity or holiness comes from within. But privately he has to explain to the Disciples

Defiled (5x) koinoō VERB, to make unclean or impure (Careful Study) The Pharisees and Scribes were concerned with being ritually pure but Jesus is concerned with being morally pure.

Heart (2x) kardia = inner self including the volition (the faculty or power of ones will), mind, and the desires of man. Note that Jesus’ list begins with evil thoughts, first out of the heart comes the thought of sin, which if left un- checked becomes an action.

Ill: David first desired Bathsheba, his thoughts were lustful towards her then he inquired about her, and then he sent for her, then committed sin with her, then he committed sin against her as he killed her husband. Defilement is a heart issue, but praise the LORD David knew where to turn!

Purity is a heart cleansing

What can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus

What can make me whole again, nothing but the blood of Jesus

Oh, precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow

Oh, no other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus

For my cleansing this I see, nothing but the blood of Jesus

For my pardon this my plea, Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Con: The Ermine are careful not to soil their outward parts at the cost of their lives so is religious man. They are focused on the external but Jesus sees the internal and desires us to be focused on Him the eternal!

Have you been going through the motions? Is there sin in your life that you have hidden behind false zeal and piousness? We can fool some people most of the time but we can never fool Jesus! Would you trade in your religion for a clean heart, come to Jesus praying CREATe IN ME A CLEAN HEART, OH GOD; AND RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN ME!

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