My Walk Through the Book of Mark by Annette Godtland

Defilement Comes from Within (Mark 7:1-23)

1Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. 2Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.

5Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?"

6He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:

'This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
7And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

8For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men--the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do."

9He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' 11But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban"-- '(that is, a gift to God), 12then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do."

14When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"

17When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. 18So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?" 20And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

Traditions are a great thing. Much literature is written stating how it is good for families to create traditions. But we must keep in mind, whatever traditions we develop are commandments of men. These traditions should never be brought to overshadow the commandments of God. Here the Pharisees had been teaching their traditions as doctrine for so long that it was difficult for others to distinguish between what was God's commandment and what was man's commandment.

He cites the example where their tradition says a man could claim what he owns to be a gift to God, therefore would not need to share it with his parents. But this is in direct conflict with the commandment to honor your father and mother.

They had so many traditions and laws that if you tried to follow all of them as written, you would not even have to think with your heart what was right and what was wrong. What may have started as a way to worship God through heartfelt sacrifice, through use without thought for so many years, this ends up being lip service instead of worship with the heart. God wants us to worship with our hearts.

The tradition in question here was to wash before eating, claiming defilement if not followed. Jesus was able to show that true defilement cannot be caused by what enters a man, but what comes out of the heart of man. It is not what enters your body, mind, or heart. Often you have no control over this. Sometimes it is brought on my Satan. But it is what you do with it. Your situation does not automatically make you bad, it is what you do with it. Even good things can come out of bad situations.

It must have been hard to think outside the guidelines of all the traditions that were taught as doctrine for all those generations. This is what they were raised with. But it is right to question tradition if you see that it is in conflict with what God commands. God wants us to open our hearts to His wishes. By doing so, we will be able to recognize what is man's commandment and what is God's commandment.

By all means, keep those family traditions. They help to make a family strong. Just make sure you aren't teaching them as doctrine and that they do not conflict with God's commandments.