Clean

Mark 7:1–23 NIV

The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.) So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?” He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)—then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.) He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

Wash your hands

Isn’t that what your mother taught you?

Skin Deep

Focusing on the outside but ignoring the inner reality. But this isn’t gnosticism. Not matter evil, spirit good. It’s about the depth of dark spiritual reality taking root in human mind.

Some of the pharisees focused only on the outward.

Potty Humor?

Jesus may be saying: living this way is like washing your hands before you eat, but not washing your hands after going to the bathroom. That would be pretty funny.

I think it’s clear Jesus is pointing to the street where sewer water flows. Food goes in and comes out. It doesn’t really matter if it was clean going in, you don’t want to touch it going out. There’s a natural process and what is discarded is not healthy to be around.

It’s what’s inside that counts

It’s a metaphor for the spiritual darkness that can dwell within the figurative human heart and mind.

Mark 7:20–23 NIV

He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

These days aren’t that different from Jesus’ day. All of us have sinful tendencies. Many are tempted to engage in these practices. We may or may not find our besetting sins on this list. But anyone is capable of them and it’s not based on how they look on the outside. A big part of it is that they are human and fallen. That’s why we need checks and balances even in the church. We have careful policies that need to be followed regarding the care of money, the care of children and vulnerable adults, how power is shared in the church life. IF a leader doesn’t care about policies and procedures beware. Unfortunately I’ve heard of older people being manipulated out of their life savings. Some people are predatory and do this kind of thing over and over. Others might become tempted as they are working with and trying to help others. Even pastors have fallen into this kind of behavior. If you work with vulnerable people, guard your heart. Be wise.

But all of us, need to be aware and realize that going to church is just the beginning. Jesus wants to transform us deep inside.

Mark for Everyone Clean and Unclean (Mark 7:14–23)

He is insisting that good and bad external and physical actions come from internal and spiritual sources, and that therefore the poisoned wells of human motivation are the real problem to which the purity laws are pointing.

So purity laws won’t help us with this part. First, look to God to heal you of what’s broken deep inside. If we focus only on outward matters, we won’t make any real progress. Don’t you want to be free? Jesus loves you and wants to allow you to live in the full reality of the kingdom of God. Don’t settle for putting a little makeup or cheap cologne on a heart that is defiled. Let the grace of God transform you through and through. It begins by facing the truth. If you are new to following Jesus in the community of faith, just be completely done with sin. Make a clean break and put it all on the table as you confess your sins and say that deep deep yes to God. Hold nothing back if you want to be free.

If we’ve been a Christian a while but we know we really haven’t dealt with a lot of stuff it won’t be easy. But what’s the alternative? Ask God for help before it leads to behaviors you will regret. Behaviors that cause pain to others. There is mercy at the foot of the cross. Grace that is greater than our sin. Peace that calms a stormy heart. We may need to enlist the help of doctors or therapists or trusted friends to fully heal and change our ways. But God is ready if we are...

Jesus is tearing down walls

He may be saying that there is now room at the table for Gentiles. As he would say later to Peter, people are not clean or unclean before God based on race or dietary practices. The heart being transformed is the key.

So it doesn’t matter if you’re Jew or Gentile, this new life is for you. It doesn’t matter if you grew up in church or never darkened it’s door. Man or woman. Adult or child. Your shade of melanin doesn’t matter either. Inside we all have very similar hopes and dreams. Inside us sin is alive and well and will destroy us if we don’t address it with God’s help.

Even some physical problems manifest because of pain and sin within us. Anxiety and fear and shame don’t have to rule our thought life with God’s help. When these thoughts lead us to immoral actions that’s when we are defiled. But when we submit ourselves fully to God we present things as they are. NO pretending. No holding back. God can and will transform every fully surrendered life in community. We have to make room for God. We have to make room for others. But then grace does a work nothing else can do...

Mark for Everyone Clean and Unclean (Mark 7:14–23)

Everything the scriptures were getting at reached a peak in Jesus Christ; from now on everything is different. Figuring out that difference, and still remaining loyal to scripture, is one of the key arts of being a Christian, then and now.

So those purity laws weren’t wrong. And hey, do wash your hands, please. Germ theory is correct. It’s possible to be overly obsessive about cleanliness, but most men are miles from that… I’m not looking at anyone but you know who you are LOL. But physically clean hands don’t give you a clean heart. They don’t make you better than your neighbor. We don’t have to rely just on rules now. We have Jesus. Our risen Lord. Our savior. He is interceding for all who confess and commit to following Him.

It’s what’s inside. Got Jesus?