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 7:5 mean?

Explanation

Mark 7:5 captures a moment of conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders of the time, the Pharisees and scribes.

They question Jesus as to why his disciples do not follow the traditional ritual washing of hands before eating, a practice upheld by the elders.

The criticism is directed at the apparent disregard for the customs that were considered a part of religious piety and cleanliness.

However, the deeper meaning of this verse, and indeed the entire narrative, is to contrast the external observance of tradition with the internal purity of the heart. Jesus uses this confrontation as an opportunity to teach about the priority of God's commandments over human traditions.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

In the Jewish tradition of the first century, it was common to perform ceremonial hand washing before meals.

This was not merely for hygiene but was a ritualistic practice that had taken on religious significance.

Pharisees and scribes were particularly adherent to these traditions and viewed them as extensions of the Mosaic Law.

Such customs were part of the 'Oral Torah' believed to have been handed down alongside the written Scriptures.

The inquiry made to Jesus reflects the tension between Jesus' ministry, which emphasized the heart and spirit of the law, and the religious leaders' focus on strict adherence to traditional practices.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse brings up the tension between tradition and scripture. Here are two key insights:

The Authority of Scripture: Some theologians argue that Jesus is asserting the authority of scripture over human traditions. He later accuses the Pharisees of nullifying God's commands by their traditions (Mark 7:9), emphasizing the primacy of divine commandments.
Inner Purity vs. Outer Ritual: This encounter illustrates a recurring theme in Jesus’ ministry: what defiles a person comes from the heart, not from external non-compliance with rituals. It highlights the importance of internal purity over external religious observances.

Practical Applications

This verse encourages individuals to:

Examine religious practices and ensure they do not overshadow the more profound commands of love, justice, and mercy.
Evaluate personal motives in religious observance, emphasizing sincerity and a pure heart over mere formality.
Encourage an understanding that rituals have their place, but not at the expense of moral and ethical commandments.

Cross-References

Matthew 15:1-3: "Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread."
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, key words include:

"Pharisees" (Φαρισαῖοι) and "scribes" (γραμματεῖς), referring to Jewish religious leaders who were strict observers of the Law and tradition.
"Tradition" (παράδοσις), which refers to teachings handed down from one generation to the next, often orally.
"Elders" (πρεσβυτέρων), the term used for leaders or senior figures within Jewish society, whose customs were highly respected.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient religions, there were similar emphases on ritual purity.

For instance, in the traditions of the Ancient Egyptians, there were strict rites for cleanliness especially among the priesthood.

Similarly, in Greek and Roman religious practices, certain purifications were required in preparation for religious ceremonies.

However, the critique of Jesus in the Jewish context highlights a tension unique to this historical and religious milieu, where oral traditions had come on par with written Law.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, handwashing is recognized as an essential practice for hygiene and preventing the spread of disease.

However, the verse is not addressing public health concerns but ritual purity. Nonetheless, modern readers may appreciate the benefits of handwashing while recognizing that the Biblical context addresses deeper issues of tradition, community practices, and moral conduct.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer varying perspectives on Mark 7:5:

William Barclay notes that Jesus did not dismiss all traditions but only those that contradicted God's commandments.

He also observes that rituals can be helpful if they lead to righteousness but harmful if they become substitutes for genuine piety.

John Calvin comments that Christ was condemning the addition of human inventions in the worship of God and the way traditions can bind consciences with the chains of superstition.
The New American Commentary suggests that the confrontation is not about handwashing per se but about the authority of the tradition of the elders relative to the law of God.

Jesus rejects the notion that human traditions hold the same weight as divine law.

Mark 7

Mark 7

What does Mark 7:5 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 7:5 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?