Reading through the Gospels #104

JESUS TEACHES ABOUT WHAT IS CLEAN AND UNCLEAN

Mark 7:1-23, Matthew 15:1-20

Mark 7:1-13 & Matthew 15:1-9

Round 1 The Pharisees and Jerusalem Scribes came to Jesus, and they saw the disciples that were with Jesus eating with unwashed hands. They called out (condemned) Jesus and his disciples for doing wrong. These folks thought they were protecting their followers from a false messiah, but they had it all wrong. Their accusation was "What defiles a person?" Unwashed hands are defiled hands.

Jesus's first reply is regarding tradition (#1) It was tradition for the Pharisees and Scribes to wash before eating. Well, it is tradition now-a-days to wash before eating because of germs! It was a good idea, huh? However, I think the Pharisees were focused on spiritual cleanliness, which was separate from physical cleanliness. There was written law in scriptures and oral law passed down as interpretation of Scriptures. The Bible mentions other traditions such as the washing of cooking and eating utensils, and the dining furniture as well. See Exodus 30:19 and Exodus 40:12.

Round 2 The Pharisees and Scribes inquired as to why the disciples break tradition, phrasing it "not walking by the tradition of the elders." My first thought is the use of the word "walking" and that we are to walk according to the Lord, not men. Their "walk" was that of legalism.

Jesus replies (#2) quoting Isaiah who prophesied hypocrisy. Isaiah 29:13, "And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men." People are hypocrites when they honor Jesus with their lips, but not their heart, and when they worship in vein by teaching the commandments of man instead of the commandments of God. Jesus summarizes the quote in that the Pharisees and Scribes leave (behind; do not follow) the commandments of God, but instead follow the traditions of men. This is called legalism.

A hypocrite is someone who pretends to have certain beliefs. Do I ever attend church, but worship is not in my heart? Do I ever pray the Bible as a task and not with a desire to know God in my heart? Do I ever sing, and just say the words without meaning it? Do I ever just quote the Lord's Prayer out loud and not really think about it from the heart as I say it?

Round 3 And in case they did not understand it said the first two ways, Jesus repeats it in another way (#3) in that they reject the commandments of God and follow their own established tradition.

Round 4 Next Jesus gives them an example to help explain what he is telling them, just in case the first three times they did not get it. Moses told the people of the commandment of God to honor your father and mother, and if you revile your mother and father you must surely die. And the Pharisees say that whatever you have gained from God, then the people are no longer permitted to do anything for their mother and father, making God's commandment void. Jesus says they do many things like this to void God's commandments.

This reminds me of Deuteronomy 4:2, "You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you."

Mark 7:14-23 & Matthew 15:10-20

Round 5 Jesus called the people to him again (as the previous verses were said to only the Pharisees and Scribes) and calls them to hear him and understand. He really seems adamant. He wants everyone to understand this, not just the select few. Jesus wants the people to know what defiles them. The disciples must have come into the house with him because they inquire about the "parable." Jesus is baffled that his own disciples do not understand. (I have to agree as he repeated it 5 different ways!)

(#5)Nothing on the outside going in (such as germs or food) can defile a person. This does not affect the heart, only the stomach, and it is then expelled. By Jesus saying this, he declared all foods clean. (Of course, pornography going in through the eyes would defile someone, but here Jesus is speaking of ceremonial cleanliness regarding food only.)

The book of Matthew adds to this writing by Mark. The disciples tell Jesus that the Pharisees were offended. Jesus replies with another parable. If God the Father does not do the planting, then it will be rooted up. He tells the disciples to leave these "blind guides" alone because the blind leading the blind will fall into a pit. Then the disciples ask Jesus to explain and he continues (joining up with the Book of Mark again).

Only what is inside a person (thoughts) coming out can defile a person. Yikes! That makes me feel guilty! I first think of the saying that what is in the heart comes out the mouth. Yet out of the heart comes evil thoughts, and a list of all those sins evil thoughts cause us to do. Jesus summarizes that all evil things come from within and that is what defiles us. It is sin that is within us that comes out.

 Jesus entered the house, spoke, and then left the people (and Pharisee and Scribes). He sure did not say much to them and left them with words to think about and ponder.