MARK

Mark Chapter 7

• Mark 7:1 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.
• 2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
• 3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

Who knows why some followed Jesus around in order to find fault and criticize? Perhaps they were jealous and did not want the people to follow any religious leaders except themselves. Perhaps they feared the Romans and did not want any attention drawn to one such as Jesus or perhaps they enjoyed their political power and did not want it threatened.

Their religion was definitely outward for show. They observed outward rituals but inwardly they had no genuine love or compassion on the sick, the sinner or those who suffered hardship. I doubt if they cared so much about observing outward laws because if one of themselves decided it was not convenient to keep a certain law, they probably would not have hesitated to break the law for their own profit. I think they merely wanted to put Jesus down and destroy His influence among the people.

For these reasons when we see faults in religious leaders or preachers of the gospel, we must be very careful to search our own hearts for motives. Do we really care that people are deceived and mislead by false teachers or our we jealous because another denomination, church or preacher is drawing a larger number to their church than we are?

The same can apply in personal lives. Do we really care that so and so is committing adultery and destroying his or her life? Does it grieve our hearts when a brother or sister falls away from God and falls into sin? What is our motive when we speak about another's fall or fault? Do we desire to share this knowledge with someone else and actually enjoy speaking about it?

Should not our hearts be so grieved that we immediately go to the Lord in prayer in the hope that the person may be saved and delivered from the sin? It has been said before and worth repeating, if we would spend half the time in fervent prayer and intercession for someone in error instead of talking about it to someone, I believe more people would be delivered from their sin and brought back into fellowship with the Lord.

• Mark 7:4 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, brazen vessels, and of tables.
• 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?

I don't believe the bible is teaching us to neglect washing our hands because for health reasons. I believe what the bible is saying is to not emphasize outward cleansing to the point of neglecting the inward soul. It is the inward part of our being that needs cleansing from sin: The motives of our heart, the state of our mind is what counts. Notice also that some of their laws were tradition rather than actual commandments from God. Washing hands is a good practice but it has nothing to do with the salvation of the soul. 

Our we "Born again by the Spirit?" Is our minds renewed? Do we have the mind of Christ?" Is the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit? These are things we get by seeking God for it. We cannot possibly save ourselves. This comes from God alone. These things are what counts not outward cleansing and observing religious rituals.

Again the motives of the Pharisees seemed to be to follow the disciples and Jesus around to find fault and tear down their influence.

• Mark 7:6 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.
• 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
• 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.
• 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
• 10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
• 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.
• 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.

Jesus spoke plainly and called them hypocrites who observed only outward religion without a change of heart. Notice that Jesus is making judgments too and finding fault but He is making righteous judgments. His motive is their salvation not to win an argument, exalt Himself or to speak evil and tear down their influence. He desires the truth, correction and sound doctrine.

This also fulfills a prophecy in Isaiah 29:13. Isaiah describes this very thing. Honoring God outwardly with the lips but inwardly the heart is far from God.

We must be very careful not to lay aside the teachings of the bible and substitute the teachings of men. Church doctrine is good but we must be careful not to add to or take away from the Word of God.

The Pharisees apparently had a way to get out of honoring their parents by claiming that all they had was for the service of the Lord and they could not give to their parents.

• Mark 7:14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, 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.
• 16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
• 17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
• 18 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;
• 19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
• 20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
• 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
• 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
• 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

That which is on the outside does not defile but that which is in the inward heart or soul of man. The way we look and act may reflect what is on the inside but we have to be careful here because by looking on the outside we could easily judge and get it wrong.

By eating with unwashed hands it may be unsanitary but it has nothing to do with the state of our soul which is the important part. This goes for all parts of our society. We can get the greatest education available, live in the cleanest environment, have the best living conditions, and still be miserable, poor and blind.

It is the inner man that counts. We can gain the whole world and lose our souls. Then it is all for nothing. Our country has taken great pains to improve the standard of living, provide health care, clean up the environment etc., but they have neglected the most important part, the spirit and soul of it's people.

The recognition of God and the spiritual needs of the people are counted as nothing when in reality it should be first and the other things come after. Without God all the other things are for nothing.

Why is so much spent each year to improve education and it is not improved? Why is so much spent on the prevention of crime and crime still prevails? Why is so much spent on welfare programs and people are still not satisfied?

We need God. We need the cleansing of the inner person. This should be first, the other later. Unless the inner man is healed, born again and turned around to the Lord, they will continue to be defiled. This is what comes from the heart: Thefts, immorality, covetousness, deceit, evil, greed, fornication and the list goes on and on. These things defile us. There is only one way to escape; Jesus Christ.

• Mark 7:24 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.
• 25 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:
• 26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
• 27 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.
• 28 And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.
• 29 And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
• 30 And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

In these passages we notice the humility and determination of a woman who wanted her daughter delivered but it also teaches the true message of the gospel and healing was first to be given to the Jews and then to the Gentiles.

The woman didn't have the attitude that some of us would probably have had. Instead of being puffed up and mad with the attitude of, "Huh, I'm just as good as the Jewish people," she humbled herself and acknowledged her state, falling upon the mercy of God even allowing herself to be considered a dog. For this saying her daughter was healed.

This was the exact opposite of some today going about demanding their rights. "God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble." If she couldn't have what was for the children of God, she was willing to take the crumbs.

• Mark 7:31 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.
• 32 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.
• 33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
• 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
• 35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
• 36 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;
• 37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

Notice the different methods of healing. Jesus dealt with people individually. Notice also that in this case He urges the man to not make this deed known among the people but to keep silent.

Jesus wanted to shun popularity and fulfill the law of the Old Testament. He did not come the first time for human acclaim but to fulfill the will of His heavenly Father. He had to die for sins. He could not do this if the people made Him a king. DC