Mark 7

Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.

And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

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.

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?

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.

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctines the commandments of men.

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.

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

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

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.

And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:

There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.

And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.

For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:

The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.

But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.

And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.

And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.

And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.

And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.

And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;

And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;

And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

What does Mark 7:13 mean?

Explanation

Mark 7:13 captures a critical moment where Jesus Christ is addressing the Pharisees and some scribes who had come from Jerusalem.

In this verse, Jesus acutely criticizes these religious leaders for allowing their traditions to supplant the commandments of God. The expression “Making the word of God of none effect” refers to rendering God's command powerless or invalid through the traditions that the Pharisees held.

The phrase “which ye have delivered” implies that these were not commands of God but human traditions that had been handed down over time. The latter part, “and many such like things do ye,” indicates that this was not an isolated incident but a part of a broader pattern of behavior.

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Historical Context

Mark 7:13 is set in the context of a confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees about the practice of ritual purity, specifically handwashing before meals.

The Pharisees and scribes had accused Jesus’ disciples of eating with defiled hands, that is, without observing the tradition of elders concerning ritual washing.

At that time, there were many Jewish oral traditions concerning purity, which the Pharisees held to be as binding as the law of Moses.

However, Jesus points out that by prioritizing their traditions over the commandments of God, they were in fact violating the divine law.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Mark 7:13 reflects the tension between adherence to human traditions and the pure commandments of God.

It suggests that traditions should not overrule the scripture and that human interpretations of divine commandments must be carefully balanced against the intent of the scriptures.

This conflict between tradition and commandment is a recurring theme in Christian theology, raising questions about the authority of scripture versus the authority of church tradition.

Practical Applications

Practically speaking, Mark 7:13 challenges believers to reflect on their own religious practices and to discern whether they are in alignment with God’s word. It encourages Christians to evaluate their traditions and customs critically and to ensure that they are not nullifying God's commandments.

This verse serves as a reminder to prioritize what God has conveyed through the scriptures over human-derived customs and to seek a personal relationship with God that is rooted in scriptural truths.

Cross-References

Matthew 15:3-6: "But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?"
Matthew 15:9: "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
Isaiah 29:13: "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:"
Colossians 2:8: "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the key phrase "Making void the word of God" (ἀκυροῦντες τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ) uses the word ἀκυροῦντες (akurountes), which can be translated as "to nullify" or "to render void." This indicates the active process by which the Pharisees and scribes were undermining God's word.

The word λόγον (logon) refers to "word," showing that the issue at hand concerns God's spoken or written revelation, not just abstract ideas.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Similar to the Pharisees' traditions, many ancient religions also had a complex array of rituals and observances that were believed to be essential for maintaining purity and favor with the gods.

The critique Jesus offers can be seen in contrast to other religious traditions where human traditions may eclipse foundational beliefs or texts.

For example, Hinduism is known for its diverse practices, and sometimes cultural practices can take precedence over Vedic teachings.

Scientific Perspectives

While Mark 7:13 does not directly deal with scientific matters, it can be connected to the psychology of religion and the cognitive science of belief.

Psychological studies on cognitive dissonance, for example, could explain why individuals might prioritize traditions over conflicting evidence or authoritative texts.

The verse could be one platform to discuss how humans hold various beliefs and practices and how these are negotiated within a community, from a psychological perspective.

Commentaries

Various Biblical scholars and theologians have commented on Mark 7:13:

John Calvin noted that human traditions often vie for the reverence that is due to God alone and that they can lead one away from genuine piety.
Matthew Henry commented that the Pharisees' traditions were not only superfluous but also mischievous and that their vanity was rebuked by Christ for making tradition compete with Scripture.
William Barclay highlighted that this verse underpins the true spirit of Christianity, one not weighed down by the accumulation of human regulations but liberated by the simplicity of God's law.
Theological commentaries like the Expositor's Bible Commentary emphasize the sharp contrast Jesus draws between divine commands and human traditions, noting that Christ sought to return focus to the heart of God's law.

Mark 7

Mark 7

What does Mark 7:13 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 7:13 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?