Tackling Tradition 53: Mark 7:1 - 13

 1Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, 2and they saw some of His disciples eating with hands that were defiled—that is, unwashed.

3Now in holding to the tradition of the elders, the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat until they wash their hands ceremonially.a4And on returning from the market, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions for them to observe, including the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and couches for dining.b

5So the Pharisees and scribes questioned Jesus: “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders? Instead, they eat with defiled hands.”

6Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: 

‘These people honor Me with their lips, 

but their hearts are far from Me.

7They worship Me in vain; 

they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’c

8You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.d”

9He went on to say, “You neatly set aside the command of God to maintaine your own tradition. 10For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’f and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’g 11But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), 12he is no longer permitted to do anything for his father or mother. 13Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.”

In some quarters of Christendom, it might be common to read this text as an indictment of legalism in general & the legalistic philosophy of the majority of the Sanhedrin 2000 years ago, In our effort to combat the rise of biblical illiteracy in general & that of Christianity & other religious traditions/ecclesiastical institutions (and their secular analogues), let’s take a closer look at the text.   

In some quarters of Christendom, it might be common to read this text as an indictment of legalism in general & the legalistic philosophy of the majority of the Sanhedrin 2000 years ago.  In our effort to combat the rise of biblical illiteracy among Christians & members of other religious traditions/ecclesiastical institutions (and their secular analogues), let’s take a closer look at the text of Matthew 7:1 - 14. 

 1Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, 2and they saw some of His disciples eating with hands that were defiled—that is, unwashed.

• The Pharisees & scribes aren’t just criticizing the Disciples for not adhering to Pharisaic Tradition, the Pharisees’ & scribes Sabbath regulations (specifically the washing of hands (which includes the washing of pots, etc), they are also advertising their Ecclesiastical Sobbery — the Disciples are, in the eyes of the Villains in the story, unwashed hands (ie people).  This is in the text of Acts 4:13 in which they call Peter & John illiterate.

Notice that the text states that some —- not all of Yeshua’s disciples — did not wash their hands.  This is an important detail.  How so?

• The disciples are not just failing to wash their hands prior to eating.  Rather, they are engaging in a 1st Century version of Mahloket (the Jewish art of debate — a style of debate that harnesses conflict & can grow quite lively. 
• For all intents & purposes, the disciples are lawsuiting them like Yeshua had been doing.  They were accusing the Ecclesiastical Establishment via their actions rather than their words.  
• The disciples are either publicly or privately challenging the Pharisees & scribes to a debate on 
• The role of Ecclesiastical Tradition
• Ideas pertaining to the doctrine we know as the Priesthood of (the) Believer(s); the role of Scripture in both faith & practice, their hypocrisy, & their (& Yeshua’s) authority. 

3Now,  in holding to the tradition of the elders, the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat until they wash their hands ceremonially.  4And on returning from the market, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions for them to observe, including the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and couches for dining.

• The author of the text isn’t criticizing these practices. Rather, he is briefly explaining them for his audience so that they know what he is talking about.  

5So the Pharisees and scribes questioned Jesus: “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders? Instead, they eat with defiled hands.”

• “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders? Instead, they eat with defiled hands. 
• They teach & lawsuit without our imprimatur (ie education)!
• “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders? Instead, they eat with defiled hands.”
• Who exactly do they think they are!  We are the custodians of faith & practice!  We are their rulers — not the other way around!
• “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders? Instead, they eat with defiled hands.”
• How dare they (and you) of all people challenge us in our own house!
• “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders? Instead, they eat with defiled hands.”
• The Scriptures are ours to interpret, not yours (plural)! 
• “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders? Instead, they eat with defiled hands.”
• By what authority do they do these things?  By what authority do you permit them?!

6Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: 

‘These people honor Me with their lips, 

but their hearts are far from Me.

7They worship Me in vain; 

they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’

8You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men. 

• The Scriptures don’t just give people a list of do’s & don’t’s —- they also instruct us to love & worship God from the heart, not just the works of our hands (ie legalistically as if practical righteousness is attained &/or credited to us with little or no regard for our motives. 
• Motives matter.  God judges us by way of evaluating our hearts & minds —- not appearances (1 Samuel 16:7, Jeremiah 17:9 & 10; Matthew 5:17 - 48; James 1:14 - 15.

9He went on to say, “You neatly set aside the command of God to maintain your own tradition. 10For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ 11But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), 12he is no longer permitted to do anything for his father or mother. 13Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.”

• Sola Scriptura is our rule of faith & practice.
• Ecclesiastical Tradition is part of our rule of faith, but unlike Scripture, Non-Inspired Ecclesiastical Tradition is not inerrant, nor is it infallible. 
• The Bible teaches the Priesthood of (the) Believer(s).
• The Supremacy of Ecclesiastical Tradition can turn you into a bigot, a hypocrite, & an ecclesiastical snob. 
• The LORD doesn’t engage in ecclesiastical snobbery. 

Christus Victor! Amen!