Most of us have run across hypocrites in our life, and we can say they are an irritating bunch, pretending to be something that in reality they are not. We find them quite frequently in religious circles, often trying to act as if they are better than everyone else. On several occasions Jesus came across religious hypocrites, and in today’s reading from Mark’s Gospel we will see what He had to say to them.
As our passage begins, some of the religious leaders and Pharisees were watching Jesus’s disciples sit down to eat, and they saw that the disciples did not go through the elaborate, ritual hand washing first (vs 1-4). This wasn’t standard hand washing that everyone would do before eating. This was a man-made law; a ritualistic tradition that the religious leaders years earlier had come up with, along with the way they washed dishes, and many other traditions. Over the years there came to be multiple hundreds of man-made ritual traditions that the Pharisees and religious leaders set up over God’s Law. By the time of Jesus’s day, all of these man-made rules had supplanted God’s Word. Following these traditions, even above the Bible, made them feel more holy, more righteous, than other people, and they tried to force others to follow them ahead of Scriptures.
When Jesus heard the criticism the Pharisees were leveling at His disciples, He responded to them by quoting a verse from the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 29:13). Even in Isaiah’s day there were those who set up man-made rules and traditions ahead of God’s Word, having thoughtless conformity without a pure heart. The Pharisees were hypocrites because they worshipped God for the wrong reasons. They were not motivated by love for God, but by desire to appear holy, and increase their status. Some people act religious by their actions, but their hearts are not true to God. We too are hypocrites if we follow certain religious practices while allowing our hearts to remain distant from God. Traditions do not make us acceptable to God.
Jesus then brought up one tradition that was frequently practiced, which was particularly abhorrent to Him, and that was the practice some followed of taking money or goods that should be used in taking care of elderly parents, and instead say it was holy, or sacred to God, (Corban), and thus the elderly parents had no means of support (vs 9-13). If a son became angry at his older parents, he could declare his money or goods “Corban”, and then not have to take care of his parents. Jesus strongly condemned the religious leaders because they were cancelling God’s Word (specifically here the command to honor parents) with their own man-made rules.
There are those, who like the Pharisees of old, like to set up religious rules and have others obey them, as well, even though these are not found in Scripture. It is important that we not set up our own man-made religious rules and regulations that have no basis in the Word of God. Jesus condemned it back then, and He would now.
Our passage today closes with Jesus admonishing the crowds around Him about what really defiles someone (vs 14-23). The Pharisees and religious leaders were very particular about what they ate, being sure everything was kosher and prepared properly. Jesus had some important words for those around Him about food, and thinking that what one ate made them righteous and better than others. What a person eats and drinks cannot defile him, but any ungodly words and actions can. It is more important what is in our heart and mind than what particular diet we have or choice of food we eat (Acts 10:9-29). Our diet doesn’t make us holy or any better than any better than anyone else. The core issue comes down to what is in the heart.
Evil actions begin with thoughts. By letting our minds dwell on lust, envy, hatred or revenge, they will lead us to sin. Instead, think of what is right, pure, and good (Phillipians 4:8). A person’s defiled heart is expressed both in what he says and does. External food cannot defile a person internally. External ceremonies and rituals cannot cleanse a person spiritually. Only what is in us will spill out. If it is anger, bitterness, and such, that will come out. If it is the fruits of the Spirit, such as love, joy, and peace, that will come out. Let’s be sure that is what is in us.
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