We will see in the passage today two points: 1. The difference between Jesus and the Pharisees 2. What is pleasing to God? What is true morality?

Mark 7:1-13 Traditions and Commandments v. 1 “scribes from Jerusalem” an official delegation to test Jesus, and hope to trip him up

vv. 2, 5. “defiled” or “unwashed” hands The OT required priests to wash their hands before they entered the tabernacle. And others to wash their hands if they’d touched a bodily discharge.

Pharisees view: they were holy and needed to be protected from defilement from the outside. They washed their hands ceremonially before meals, not hygienic. vv. 3-4. Washed after going to market, washed specific dishes–w/cupped or porous surfaces.

“Tradition of the elders” The Jews recognized the written law, the Torah, but also oral tradition, tradition of the elders. The Mishnah was supposed to be “a fence around the Torah”, to keep people from breaking the written law. The oral tradition was supposed to help people know how to keep the law. It includes all these additional man-made rules on washing and keeping the Sabbath.

vv. 6-7. “Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites” Their words honor God, but their hearts are distant from him. Their worship is vain – meaningless. Lip service. All talk, no walk.

Be on guard against trying to look pious on the outside while lacking true devotion for God in our hearts. (6)

Be on guard against rules that we think make us right before God but take us far from him. (7)

v. 8. They exchanged God’s commands for men’s traditions. It led them to cold hearts.

v. 9. They reject God’s commands for men’s traditions. Be on guard against counterfeit and lies as replacements for God’s truth. (8-9) vv. 10-13. Jesus gave a current day example. People to declare property or estate “Corban” – devoted to God but live off of its income. If they’re parents needed help, they were not permitted to help them. They voided God’s word that says “honor your father and mother” – care for them.

Be on guard against legalism that shows no compassion toward others. (12)

Legalism leads to hypocrisy and distance from God Arrogance toward others (2) Distance from God (6) Self-righteousness from man-made rules (7) Rejection of God’s commands (8-9) Coldness toward others (11-12) There is no place for these hypocrisies in the lives of Christians

The cross draws us to God and leads us to grace Grace toward others Draws us to God Righteousness from Christ, apart from the Law Embraces God’s commands Compassion toward others

Mark 7:14-23 What Defiles a Person? vv. 14-15. Nothing from outside defiles you, what comes out of you defiles you.

vv. 17-19. Because what comes from the outside doesn’t go into your heart. “He declared all foods clean” – Peter had a vision about Cornelius, the first Gentile convert, that he was free from the OT dietary restrictions. More significantly, God was bringing Gentiles into his kingdom and giving them His Spirit.

v. 21 – out of men’s hearts come evil thoughts Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Matt 12:34

Look at the list. How many apply to you? This is a broad net. Who has not had evil thoughts? Who has not deceived? Who has not envied? Sexual impurity? Slandered? Been prideful?

The problem is not that our environment might defile us. The problem is that our sins have defiled us already. “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Ro 7:24

Jesus and the disciples had been around lepers (1:40), tax collectors (2:13), Gentiles (5:1), a woman with bleeding (5:25), a corpse (5:35). When Jesus came into contact with them, he made took away their uncleanness. Jesus makes sinners clean, heals their disease, takes away their sin, raises them out of death.