Mark 7_1_13 Exegetical

Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. 2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 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. 5 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?

6 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.7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

8 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. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:11 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.

12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. MARK 7:1-13

OBESERVATIONS

Vs. 1,3,5………Pharisees and Scribes (Noun) X 3

Vs. 2,3,4,6,7,8,9,11,12,13 Pronouns…. They, Ye, your.. etc Antecedent (Pharisees and Scribes and ALL Jews) X 22 not in Vs. 1,5,10 but all others!

Vs. 1,5,9 Him, He …. (Pronouns Antecedent is Jesus) X 3

Vs. 2,5 His/Thy Disciples ….. Jesus’……. (noun) X 2

Vs. 6,7 Me …. (Pronoun Antecedent is God) X 3

Vs. 6 Isiah X 1

Vs. 1 Jerusalem X 1

Vs. 3,5 Tradition of Elders (Noun.. Thing) X 2

Vs. 8 Tradition of Man (Noun… Thing) X 1

Vs 9 Your own tradition (Noun… thing X 1

Vs. 7 Commandments of men X 1

Vs. 13 Your tradition x 1

Vs. 8,9 Commandment of God X 2

Vs. 13 Word of God X 1

Vs. 2 Saw Verb X 1

Vs. 2 ,5 Eat (Disiples) Verb X 2

Vs. 3,4Eat (not) [P/S/J] Verb X 2

Vs. 2 Found Fault Verb X 1

Vs. 3,4 Wash Verb X 2

Vs. 4,8 Washing Verb X 2

Vs. 4HoldVerbX 1

Vs. 3Holding VerbX 1

Vs. 2Found (fault) VerbX 1

Vs. 5Walk (not)VerbX 1

Vs. 6 ProphesiedVerbX 1

Vs. 6HonourethVerbX 1

Vs. 6FarVerbX 1

Vs. 7WorshipVerbX 1

Vs. 7TeachingVerbX 1

Vs. 8LayingVerbX 1

Vs. 8HoldVerbX 1

Vs. 8DoVerbX 1

Vs. 9RejectVerbX 1

Vs. 9KeepVerbX 1

Vs. 10HonorVerbX 1

Vs. 10CursethVerbX 1

Vs. 10DieVerbX 1

Vs. 11SayVerbX 1

Vs. 11ProfitedVerbX 1

Vs. 12SufferVerbX 1

Vs. 13MakingVerbX 1

Vs. 13EffectVerbX 1

Vs. 13Delivered VerbX 1

Vs. 13DoVerbX 1

Vs. 2DefiledAdjX 1

Vs. 2,5UnwashenAdjX 2

Vs. 3OftAdjX 1

Vs. 2,3,5HandsNounX 3

Vs. 4,8Cups, Pots, NounX 2

Vs. 4Vessels, tables NounX1

Vs. 2Comparison ……. Defiled and unwashed hands

Vs. 7Comparison ……. Worship and teaching for docrine the commandments of men.

Vs. 8Comparison ……. Tradition of men and washing of cups, and pots AND MANY OTHER THINGS THAT YOU DO!

Vs. 9Comparison ……. Reject the commandments of God by keeping your own traditions.

vs. 8Cause and Effect ……. Laying aside the Commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men.

Vs. 6Contrast………. Honor me with lips, but their heart is far from me.

Comparison…. Tradition of Elders and Tradition of men

Substituted the Word of God for human traditions

Historical Context

Wrote by Mark to give account of the Christ who came to earth as the suffering servant. His audience was 1st century Roman Christians who found themselves under persecution at the hands of Nero.

Literary context

This Scripture is found after Jesus teaches His disciples about dependence on Him for all things, food, presence, power after they had returned from their first ministry assignment (2 x 2)

This scripture is just before Jesus claims that it is not what goes into you that defiles you it is what comes out of you,

Quoted Scripture

Then the Lord said, “Because this people draw near with their words And honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote, Is 29:13.

precept of men—instead of the precepts of God, given by His prophets; also worship external, and by rule, not heartfelt as God requires

Ezekiel quotes Is. Or is parallel. They come to you as people come, and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them, for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their gain. Eze 33:31.

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you. Ex 20:12.

He who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. Ex 21:17.

Summary

Jesus’ disciples ate bread without washing their hands, the Pharisees and Scribes saw this and were offended because they held tight to the tradition of their elders, as well as many Jews. Tradition held they wash their hands as a religious ritual as well as many other things they do. Jesus was questioned “why do you not teach your disciples to live this way?”

Jesus answered by telling them “Isaiah prophesied of you as He prophesized of Sennacherib’s invasion of Judah due to the unbelief of the Jews.” You hypocrites you pretend to honor me but you do not love me, your worship is not pleasing to me because you teach as sound doctrine the command of men not MY COMMANDS!

You have laid aside the commandments of God to embrace man made traditions, like washing pots and cups and many other things as religious rituals. You reject God’s commands so you can hold on to your traditions.

Here is an example, Moses gave us God’s commandments and in those commands you are instructed to Honor your father and mother so you may live a long time in this land but those who curse their father or mother must be put to death. You have caused people to sin and given them justification by your traditions saying we can break this command if what we should give to our parents, we give it to the temple then we shall not be put to death, and we will be seen a righteous generous giver. Your rituals tells the people they no longer have to do anything for their parents, this is a great social injustice and the prophets preached judgment over social injustices.

You have not only broken God’s commands but you have revoked the teachings of God word by the traditions you have handed down, this is an example of one thing you do but there are many other things you do in this like manner.

Outline

Introduction: Stephen and the Shema – tradition that has invalidated the greatest command to Love the Lord Your God with all that you are. This tradition tells him that the way you love God is by going through the ritual motions of quoting a profound piece of Scripture. But unfortunately it is impossible for Stephen to love God in this way because of a lack of living faith in Jesus Christ. His worship is in vain it is useless.

His tradition/religion tells him he is faithful but when he meets Christ he will see the blindness his traditions caused him.

CPS: Traditions that are not based in the word of God will lead you to stumble and human traditions is not a type or substitute for worship.

Accusation of the Jews. Vs. 1-5

It is good to wash your hands for sanitary reason, but the Pharisees saw the washing of hands before one ate as a ceremonial purification. They claimed eating with unwashed hands were eating with Defiled [(vs. 2) hands which was vulgar or profane]. The pharisees would not eat after coming from the market unless they washed their hands often [ vs.3 Diligent. CHSB ritually NASB Carefully] they would wash by immersion – from fist to elbow, rubbing one hand and arm with the other hand clenched in a fist.

The Tradition of the elders was the oral law, handed down by the elders of the past which was latter recorded in the Mishna after the destruction of the temple in AD 70. Rabbis made it a mark of righteousness, which became magnified at great length in the oral teachings resulting in minute regulations. It was commanded to wash the hands before each meal and after each meal. The more rigorous would do it between the courses. The water must be ceremonial clean as well as the cups or pots must be ceremonial clean and ready for use. This was far more than good etiquette or hygiene the rabbis held this to be a MORAL SIN.

Some scholars believe that Pharisees washed their entire body after coming from the market due to coming in contact with all the people there because they would be defiled.

** The oral law was being obeyed by the Pharisees and Scribes but the written Law said nothing about this. The Pharisees and Scribes were the religious teachers and they would have been teaching this to the Jews (All the Jews vs.3, this is hyperbole)

The accusation is, why are not Jesus’ disciples obeying the Oral Law, as we do and teach.

This is legalism, which says if a little is good then a lot is better.

Hadden Robinson said “I do not want a religion I have to carry, I want a religion that carries me.” Pharisees carried their religion

Jesus teachings are not based on religious formalism but on radical FAITH!

What they saw

They saw Moral Sin.

What they said

Why don’t your disciples live like we do?

Illustration: Wash basin has two handles – when one is touched it becomes unclean it has to become made clean again if it is touched. You must touch the sides as you wash.

Application:

The Answer of Jesus Vs. 6-13

Jesus calls them hypocrites (18 times in N.T. actor) Religious actors

When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. Mt 6:5.

Then Quotes Isaiah - hypocritical ceremonial worship, without living faith or any striving after holiness for this reason came Sennacherib’s invasion of Judah due to the unbelief of the Jews.”

Honor me with your lips – your only reverence for God is lip service.

Hearts are far from me – Idea of a great distance away from me.

In vain do they worship me - worship is useless, your search for me is unsuccessful

They professed great devotion to the Lord, but were inwardly corrupt. By elaborate rituals, they pretended to worship God, but they had substituted their traditions for the doctrines of the Bible. Instead of recognizing the Word of God as the sole authority in all matters of faith and morals, they explained away the clear demands of the Scripture by their tradition

Full well ye -Experts at rejecting the commands of God.

By holding to all your traditions you reject – (Violate – neutralize) God’s words

You keep your traditions over the word of god.

Jesus gives an example – Instead of keeping the 1st command with a promise (to live long in the land) your traditions are in direct disobedience of the Law and the sentence is death.

But to keep avoid this penalty your traditions tells you to cling to upholding a vow.

Corban -A vow to give an offering

Many scholars believe this was a way for them to continue to use the money or property as they wish. This vow was a promised gift to the temple once they died.

Instead of taking care of their parents their traditions has led them to cold heartedness which is social injustice and the prophets of old preached judgment towards Israel.

Your traditions allow to no longer due anything for your parents.

VS. 13 NONE EFFECT notice the progression Laying Aside (vs.8), Reject – invalidate (vs.9), none effect (vs.13)

Traditions danger

Tradition’s development

Illustration: Tradition is the living faith of those now dead. Traditionalism is the dead faith of those still living.

Brandy and Terry weight watchers – point system – their goal is to lose weight and live healthy.

But they decide one day to go get a dipped Ice cream cone from D.Q., it was so good and no harm was done because it was just once and they will cut back tomorrow on something else.

Talking about how good that ice cream was decide to go back next week, “its fine we will cut back a little tomorrow.”

Turns into twice a week then three times a week – now there are occasional snicker bars thrown in the mix. Next you know they are buying a twelve pack of Blue Bunny hard dipped cones from the pic pac.

They have slowly began to lay aside the diet, then the diet was laid aside a little more, then finely the diet is nullified it is no more.

The diet was in vain, and they go back to a lifestyle of unhealthy eating and living.

Application: Don’t let traditions cause you to worship God in vain.

Don’t add to God’s word nor take away from it but worship in Spirit and in truth!

WHAT ARE SOME TRADITIONS WE HOLD TO????????????????

Are we just going through the motions?

If so your religion is dead and you are dead.

Adherence to their traditions caused them to miss the Messiah they had been waiting for.

THE Traditions of the Elders

7 The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Him. 2 They observed that some of His disciples were eating their bread with unclean—that is, unwashed—hands. 3 (For the Pharisees, in fact all the Jews, will not eat unless they wash their hands ritually, keeping the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they have washed. And there are many other customs they have received and keep, like the washing of cups, jugs, copper utensils, and dining couches.[a]) 5 Then the Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why don’t Your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders, instead of eating bread with ritually unclean[b]hands?”

6 He answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written:

These people honor Me with their lips,but their heart is far from Me.7 They worship Me in vain,teaching as doctrines the commands of men.[c]

8 Disregarding the command of God, you keep the tradition of men.”[d]9 He also said to them, “You completely invalidate God’s command in order to maintain[e] your tradition! 10 For Moses said:

Honor your father and your mother;[f] andWhoever speaks evil of father or mothermust be put to death.[g]

11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or mother: Whatever benefit you might have received from me is Corban’” (that is, a gift committed to the temple), 12 “you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. 13 You revoke God’s word by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many other similar things.”