Reflections From Mark’s Gospel: Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN: “THE MISUSE OF HUMAN TRADITION: THE GOSPEL AT A RAPID CLIP” (MK.7)

This section in Mark records the proper and improper use of human tradition and weighs it’s authority (vv.1-13); the truth of what defiles a person (vv.14-23); and two more acts of healing in Jesus’ ministry.

There’s always a hierarchy in the affairs of men when it comes to worshipping God.  We tend to emulate the Pharisees and scribes when we ignore Moses and Jesus.  Let me explain.  The Pharisees and scribes took offense at Jesus’ disciples when they ate “bread with impure hands—unwashed”.  This was one of many traditions they strictly observed as a means of worship (3-5) but Jesus’ response to their inquisition was an indictment of hypocrisy:

“Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?” ⁶ And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:

NOTE HERE: The inscripturated word of God is the base of authority for how Jesus will argue, “It is written”.