In our passage, we find Jesus once again in conflict with the Scribes and Pharisees. They had come from Jerusalem to spy out Jesus, looking for something they could use to accuse and discredit him and ultimately declare him to be a false teacher.
They thought they had found their opportunity when they saw Jesus’ disciples eating with unwashed hands. So they brought their complaint to Jesus:
“And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” (Mark 7:5).
Their concern here is not with personal hygiene, but with ceremonial cleansing. This is evident from their use of the word “defiled” and from Jesus’ response, which addresses the nature of true worship. Notice also that they did not accuse the disciples of violating a commandment of God, but rather “the tradition of the elders.”
Jesus replies by first calling them hypocrites, and then quoting from Isaiah 29:13:
“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; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (Mark 7:6-7).
In Isaiah’s day, the people were observing the religious holidays and making the prescribed offerings on the Sabbath day, but their hearts were far from God. Their worship was outwardly correct, but their lives demonstrated that they were not truly devoted to Him (cf. Isaiah 1:13–17).
And in Jesus’ day, they were also replacing God’s commandments with their traditions (cf. Mark 7:8-13).
As you read this passage, consider the following questions:
- How do we keep our devotion and love for the Lord fervent and not allow our religious duties to become mere habits or obligations?
- Are there loopholes that we have established to give us an excuse not to obey clear commands in scripture, like those mentioned in James 1:26-27?
- How do you understand Jesus’ words to the Samaritan woman in John 4:21,23 regarding true worship? What does it mean to worship God “in spirit and truth”?
- What is the only way that our worship can be made acceptable to God? (cf. Heb 9:14)
We praise God for the new hearts He has given us through Christ—a heart that desires to know Him, love Him, obey His Word, and gather with His people to worship Him.