Untitled Sermon

Mark 6:56 NRSV

And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

7:15

There are two groups of people, those who are sick and need healed and the religious authorities that they think they are well. Those who are well are more concerned with upholding the traditions of the elders.

This goes with a general theme of the book: Jesus came for those in need of a physician.

15 And as he sat at dinner in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples—for there were many who followed him. 16 When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 When Jesus heard this, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” 

Why do “some” of Jesus’ disciples not wash their hands before eating?

Possibilities:

Because Jesus disciples are labelled as tax collectors and sinners, it’s likely they don’t follow the “tradition of the elders.” They don’t know or are not used to following the prescribe regulations and manners. Also, those labeled sinners are likely deemed as such because they don’t wash their hands. A sinner would be one that doesn’t follow the regulations and manners. “Manners” play an important role in this text.

Another possibility is that “some” don’t wash for practical reasons, like not having enough water available because they are in a village.

Manners & Customs

Manners - ways of behaving toward people, esp. ways that are socially correct and show respect for their comfort and their feelings: (Cambridge - Oxford)

See Mayer’s definition in CA handbook