Mark 7: 1-15 (Commentary)

[MatthewG]

Hello you who may be reading this, there is a comment at the bottom to consider if you finish from the start with all that is presented.



Mark 7
King James Version

So in the previous verses of Mark Chapter 6:53-56
You learn about when Jesus and His Disciples arrive into the land of Gennesaret. There they found that many people from the country knew who it was and all sick was brought to Him that if they could just touch Jesus's Cloak they could be healed (made whole).

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

In verse 7: Then together unto the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes; which came from Jerusalem.

Therefore there is coming unto Jesus the Pharisees.

Who are the Pharisees, and who are the Scribes? You may ask yourself.

Pharisees, were around only until 73 CE - AD. So three short years after the destruction of Jerusalem the Pharisees had dissolved and no longer where anymore. The Pharisees also were traders during the first century and they often had owned land, and were known to follow traditions of their 'Fleshly' father. Which were handed down from generation to generation.

The Scribes, were like that of a Lawyer, who knew the things that pertained to the Earthly Law, and even had the ability to write divorcement slips, and also may have been associated with the Pharisees as well. Though the difference between them both is significant.

One were traders, who were Jewish who all followed traditions and laws.
One were Lawyers, who were Jewish who all followed traditions and had power in the Earthly Law.

They were all from Jerusalem and of Jewish descendant.​

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

In Verse 2; and when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say with unwashed, hands, they found fault in Yeshua along with the disciples there with Yeshua.​

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

In verse 3: The Pharisees, and all the Jews. As above We are most certainly dealing with Pharisees here who are all Jewish. And according to their traditions that were made by mean, they washed their hands often so they would eat with clean hands. So for the Pharisees to be looking at the Hands of the 12 Disciples and that of Yeshua, they were certainly looking down on them because of that and also because of their idea that the traditions of others need to be followed or of their elders. They also believed in God but their hearts were far from them.​

4 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.

And when they come from the Mark; So when the Pharisees ~ and all the Jews there with them come from the market ~ and do not wash their hands, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, and washing of cups, and pots, brasen, vessels, and of tables.

Therefore looking here at what is expressed by Mark in this story of the Gospel of Jesus Christ : You have very good detail of what the religious traditions of what the Pharisees had learned from their forefathers of what is important. The washing of the hands is important because it reflects being clean. It seems as though the Pharisees lived a life that was of flesh, and material with no real inner spiritual change. Because washing of the cups and dishes is an action you do. You can appear to be clean on the outside and wash away the dirt from your body. The thing you can not wash away however is the sin that resides in your flesh, that only the power of Christ, and the power of God is able to help hold back if you are a believer who abides in Christ as the Vine who brings forth nourishment.​

If you felt lead please comment if there is any insight you would like to share with me, please feel free to do so. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.

 

[MatthewG]

5 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?

In verse 5: The Pharisees and scribes asked Jesus, Why walk not they disciples according to the traditions of the elders.

The Pharisees, and scribes did not like that Jesus and the Disciples were eating with dirty hands, and not following the traditions of the elders that taught them they need to only wash with clean hands.

It this over all seems to me that the Pharisees were concerned with the outward appearance of a person, rather than what is in their heart. Because of holding the traditions of the elder there may be the feeling of being superior over the disciples and Jesus because of following their traditions.​

6 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.

In verse 6 you can see that Jesus is answering to the question of why are you not following the traditions of the elders. Jesus quotes from the Prophet Isaiah.

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,

You can see hear that the people of Israel and their hearts had become callous when it came to the Pharisees and Scribes. Jesus is quoting this scripture for it has become true in that day Jesus Christ was walking, and speaking around in that age.

Jesus says plainly: Because of this people draw near with their mouth ~ Confessing they know God; They honor me with their lips ~ Speaking highly of God, while their hearts are far from me, ~ The heart of this people the Nation of Israel, the Jewish people. Had become callous. And their fear of me is a commandment taught by men. ~ Therefore because of professing they know God, speaking highly of God, but the heart is far away, they fear God because of a commandment taught by men. ~ As though God would strike them down for having dirty hands. They had been taught by a religious mindset of dos and do nots which they lived and adhered to in that day.​

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

In verse 7: Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

This word worship here is sebo', Personally meaning respect: to hold something (someone) in high respect: showing the reverence or awe of someone who is devout.

Howbeit in vain: The word Vain here means mate'n, unreal way, pointless, without ground or any real purpose (fruitfulness)

Therefore because of these words you can plainly see that Jesus is speaking directly to the source of the problem with the Pharisees, and Scribes that are there questioning why they are not holding on to the traditions of the elders. They are worshiping God in vain, because they are worshiping God in a pointless way, that produces know fruitfulness for the kingdom. They are teaching the doctrines of Men, and not the knowledge of God. Because of their judgment they are getting judged by the same measure by the Logos of God who knew the Old Testament well after learning it from others when He was growing up, with the help of His Father too.​

8 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.

In verse 8: Jesus goes on to say laying aside the commandment of God ~ So the Pharisees and Scribes laid aside the commandment of God ~ They also were all Jewish and instead of holding on to the commandment of God; they held on to the traditions of men, as the washing of pots and cups and many other such like things ye do.​

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

In verse 9: Jesus spoke to them, The Jewish people of the Pharisees and scribes: Still judging them back because of their judgement. Masterfully and very direct: Full well you reject the commandment of God: That you may keep your own tradition. Exodus 20 is where the ten commandments are found though interestingly enough those were not made for us today. They can be examined and looked at they are holy and they are good; but did you know that it was for the people who were brought out of Egypt and out of the land of Slavery? The Nation of Israel. Interesting because that is a fact. Though you will see pictures of the 10 commandments hung in some peoples house sometimes and what not. Those 10 commandments were for the Jewish people that God had purposed to be used by and through Gods divine plan to bring about salvation unto all of those on the face of the planet.

Therefore the Pharisees and scribes rejected the commandment of God and laid them down to keep their own commandment which was according to their own man-made traditions.​

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

Yeshua is still going on speaking to them there that is questioning speaking of Exodus 20:12 where Moses had said: Honor thy father, and they mother, and whoso curses father or mother let him die the death.

This is speaking on what was to happen if you did not obey your mother and father you were to be put to death... could you imagine living under these laws ? That if you did not obey your mother or father you were to be put to death? Now Jesus is giving these men a seemingly hard time because He is speaking truth and directly to them at their heart.
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11 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.

Then Yeshua goes on to say : If they were to 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.

This is from the New Living Translation version

In verse 11: 11 But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’ 12 In this way, you let them disregard their needy parents.

So Yeshua is speaking to the Pharisees and Scribes in what they did ignoring their parents needs by saying they have given was need towards God and that gets them off the hook of rejecting their parents because their time was spent doing something for God ~ but not for others. That is the judgment being placed on the Pharisees and Scribes at this time. Which was disregarding all together the Commandment of God. In what Jesus has told us: To love God first and foremost; and love others as yourself.

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

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

Therefore because of all of these things that Yeshua is bringing forth He continues to explain to them they are making the word of God of none effect through the traditions that they are living by. And this is only one example among any others.

What a steep judgment call by the Word of God ~ Logos of God in the Flesh of Jesus to say to these men here that are questioning Him about the defiled and dirty hands. The Pharisees and Scribes were being very judgmental so because of judging like such; Jesus judged them fairly and justly right back in spirit, love, and truth.​

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

And when Yeshua had called all the people unto Himself, Yeshua said to them, Hear and listen to me everyone of you around; and understand.​

15 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.

In verse 15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him; but that things which come out of Him, those are that defile the man.

Jesus finishes up here saying that It is not what goes in your body that defiles you but what comes out of your heart in what you may say it was defiles you.​

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