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

 

 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to meet Him, having come from Jerusalem.  Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.  For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.  When 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.  Then 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?"  He 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.

And in vain they worship Me,

Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

"For 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."  He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandments of God, that you may keep your tradition.  For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'  But 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), "then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down.  And many such things you do."  

 

When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand:  There is nothing that enters a man which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"  When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.  So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also?  Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?"  And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

 

- Mark 7:1–23 

 

Yesterday we read that, when evening came, as the disciples had been sent back across the Sea of Galilee by Jesus, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.  Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.  Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.  And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled.  But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased.  And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.  For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.  

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.  And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick  to wherever they heard He was.  Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched Him were made well.

 

Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to meet Him, having come from Jerusalem.  Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.  For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.  When 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.  Then 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?"  He 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.  And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'  For 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."  He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandments of God, that you may keep your tradition.  For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'  But 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), "then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down.  And many such things you do."  My study Bible explains that the issue in this passage is not the observation of Jewish customs or traditions, which are most definitely not prohibited by Christ (Matthew 5:17-19; 23:23).  The issue is setting human tradition contrary to the tradition of God.  The tradition of the elders is a body of interpretations of the Law, which for the Pharisees and the scribes was as authoritative as the Law, often superseding it.  So, according to this tradition (as my study Bible explains it) offerings (called Corban) could be promised to God, so it would render property or earnings still available to be used by oneself, but not for others -- including elderly parents.  My study Bible says that secondary traditions such as this obscure the primary tradition of the Law, which is contained in God's commandments.  Jesus quotes from Isaiah 29:13; Exodus 20:12, 21:17.  

 

 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand:  There is nothing that enters a man which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"  When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.  So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also?  Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?"  And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man."  My study Bible comments here that food cannot defile a person because food is created by God and is therefore pure.  Evil things are not from God -- and these are what defile a person.  

 

 In today's reading, Jesus gives us an example of how we can take the wisdom of God and turn it into something oppressive by seemingly expanding our zeal for it.  Certainly gifts to God are a good thing; donations to our places of worship and providing for the needs of worship for people are good and uplifting things.  But here, traditions of men have been established that allow people to supposedly express their love of God with gifts that in the end wind up creating circumstances that go entirely against the spirit of the Laws of God. To call something Corban, a gift to God, a kind of offering to the temple in trust during one's lifetime, meant that the owner of this property or gift could then only use it for themselves.   In this case, the example is about gifts that otherwise could be used to help dependent, elderly parents but are instead preserved for only the donor's use.  The practice functions as an excuse to refuse needed help.  Let us recall that the people involved in this story lived in a society that had no social assistance in any number of dimensions of the state as we know it, and so people were dependent upon family and clan for all kinds of needs, even for redressing simple grievances, for example.  Even with all of the extended social fabric of today with its assistance, programs for seniors such as Medicaid or Medicare, Social Security, and a whole host of social services from varied levels of government or community, we will often find ourselves called upon as family to assist others who are in need of extra care.  With all our modern sensibility of the need to care even for those whom we don't know but who are nonetheless members of our society, we lack a perfect system; there is always a need for help, oversight, and effort for those who are dependent for any reason.  So, we can imagine the needs of elderly parents in Christ's time.  What Jesus is saying, as my study Bible explains it above, is that the system of traditions developed by the Pharisees and scribes actually hindered God's Law as given to Moses.  These traditions harmed the outcomes desired by God, the care and structure of community, particularly in the very basic need to help one's elderly parents.  Anyone who has tangled with a bureaucratic requirement that actually hindered getting care for oneself or a family member is familiar with this sense that the spirit of the law is hobbled by the letter of the regulation.  But when it comes to God's purposes, we understand a double layer of hypocrisy from those who have leadership positions and yet enable such common problems of selfishness behind a mask of piety.  Corruption exists today just as it did then, but Christ's outspoken complaint comes in defense of God and God's purposes, for which He has been sent to us.  This isn't simply a violation of basic norms or common courtesy.  This crosses over into a type of blasphemy, where the outward appearance of serving God perverts God's justice and direct teachings.  In our modern age, we might not quite understand the depth of problem such a violation really means or entails, for it's an act against the Spirit of God, against what has been given us by the Lord, not simply a social problem.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What comes out of a man, that defiles a man

 

 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem.  Now when they saw some of the disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.  For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.  When 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.  Then 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?"  He 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.

And in vain they worship Me,

Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

"For 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."  He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.  For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'  But 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), "then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down.  And many such things you do."  

 

When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand?  There 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.  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"  When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.  So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also?  Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?"  And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

 

- Mark 7:1-23 

 

Yesterday we read that when evening came (following Christ's feeding of the five thousand), the boat of the disciples was in the middle of the sea; and Jesus was alone on the land where He had gone to pray.  Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.  Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.  And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled.  But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased.  And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.  For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.  When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.  And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was.  Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched Him were made well.   

 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem.  Now when they saw some of the disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.  For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.  When 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.  Then 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?"  He 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.  And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'  For 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."  He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.  For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'  But 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), "then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down.  And many such things you do."   My study Bible frames this is as not concerning the observation of Jewish customs or tradition, which Christ does not prohibit (Matthew  5:17-19; 23:23).  The conflict here is setting human tradition which is contrary to the tradition of God, such as that which was given to Moses for the people.  The tradition of the elders is a body of interpretations of the Law.  For the Pharisees and the scribes this became as authoritative as the Law and often superseded it.  According to that tradition, offerings (which were called Corban) could be promised to God in a way that property or earnings could still be used for oneself, but not for anybody else, including a person's parents, my study Bible explains.  It notes that secondary traditions like this obscure the primary tradition of the Law, contained in God's commandments.  Jesus quotes from Isaiah 29:13.

When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand?  There 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.  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"  When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.  So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also?  Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?"  And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man."  My study Bible explains that Jesus teaches that food cannot defile a person because it is created by God and is therefore pure.  Evil things are not from God, and these are what defile a person.  

Sometimes Jesus' teachings on the internal life of a person can be somewhat confusing; or rather, the truth is, we might become confused about how they actually apply to our every thought, such as in His teachings in the Sermon on the Mount on murder and adultery (Matthew 5:21-30).  Jesus' emphasis there is on how such violations of the law begin within the heart, and the importance of guarding our hearts and knowing and correcting ourselves in this sense.  But here, His teaching, while it emphasizes the internal state of a person and one's heart, makes clear that what is truly defiling is the evil that comes out of the heart -- not simply restrictions of food.  Indeed, there are things we may avidly consume which are harmful and defiling to us (such as entertainments that encourage lust, violence, covetousness, the components of Christ's teachings about murder and adultery in the Sermon on the Mount just cited).  Jesus' emphasis here on what comes from within, out of the heart of men, is on evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness."  He says that all of these things are evil, and that they all come from within and defile a person.   Therefore, similarly to the teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, we are to guard our own heart in terms of the things we nurture and encourage within ourselves.  Clearly all of these things come from the heart, and so Christ is asking us to be aware of them, to be conscious of where our own spiritual vulnerabilities and temptations are, to correct ourselves and our thinking in this sense, before these things are acted upon.  (An evil eye, by the way is envy.)  It is easy to get caught up in outward appearances, showings of virtue in some sense, and to thus eliminate concern and care for the thoughts we nurture in our hearts as if they don't matter.  But this leads also to the hypocrisy that Christ condemns most vehemently in Matthew 23, His grand critique of the behavior of the scribes and Pharisees.  There, Jesus teaches His disciples that as teachers, the "scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do" (Matthew 23:2-3).  In other words it's not their teachings according to the tradition of Moses that are the problem, but rather their hypocrisy:  "For they say, and do not do."  The practices which He criticizes in today's readings are those things that easily lead to and cover hypocrisy, where greed or covetousness or lust, and all manner of corrupt behaviors that follow, are cultivated and covered by an outward appearance of virtue.  So while one may focus on how well one fasts, or how strictly one can follow outward "good" behavior, if we don't understand that everything we are and do, good and bad, comes from the heart, then we lose the sense of God's presence  to us, and how we need to fight the good fight of faith.  In simplicity and humility we approach God in this sense, for God sees the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). The best of the practices of our faith, the things given in tradition such as fasting during Lent, making the sign of the Cross, all of our liturgical practices and prayer, the use of icons -- all of these things are good and proper when we make proper use of them to shore up our faith, to encourage others, and especially to cultivate and practice a deepening reliance upon God and to learn God's mercy and truth, and live by it in community.  But when the focus becomes purely outward we lose sight of the place to which Christ calls us, and the truth of His teachings in today's reading.  Much of our common life in this time focuses on outward appearance especially through the use of social media.  Many are all too aware of their presence online, what they present to others, how one is seen or can cultivate an image for outward consumption.  Let us also note that those things Christ names as evil things which come from the heart (evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness) can easily stem from and be cultivated by social media and popular culture.   We might call that emphasis on appearance before others and the ruthless demand to adhere to certain social choices our modern day "commandments of men," in the words of Isaiah quoted by Jesus.  An unrelenting focus on outward appearance before others may disrupt the deeply personal reality of faith and of the heart, encouraging us to follow and to fear the crowd more than we focus on the love of God first and its root in us.  Thus our real spiritual struggle becomes one of self-discipline and discernment, holding fast to the love of God first before all else.  Let us consider our focus and remember Christ's words and teachings in today's reading.  For there will always be those who criticize, but the love of God in the heart knows no rival for goodness and truth.

Hear Me, everyone, and understand: There 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

 

 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem.  Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.  For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.  When 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.  Then 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?"  He 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.

    And in vain they worship Me,

    Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

"For 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."  He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.  For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'  But 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), "then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down.  And many such things you do."  

When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand:  There 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.  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"  When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.  So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also?  Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?"  And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

 

- Mark 7:1–23 

 

Yesterday we read that when evening came, the boat of the disciples, whom Jesus had sent on their way without Him, was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.  Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.  Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.  And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled.  But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."   Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased.  And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.  For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.  When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.  And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was.  Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched Him were made well.

 

Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem.  Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.  For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.  When 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.  Then 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?"  He 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.  And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'  For 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."  He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.  For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'  But 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), "then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down.  And many such things you do."  My study Bible comments on this passage that the issue here is not the observation of Jewish customs or traditions, which Jesus most certainly never prohibits (Matthew 5:17-19; 23:23).   At issue is the setting of human traditions which are effectively contrary to the tradition of God.  The tradition of the elders is a body of interpretations of the Law. For the Pharisees and the scribes this became as authoritative as the Law.  In fact, it often superseded it, which is the point of the example Christ cites here.  According to this tradition, one could make an offering (called Corban) which could be promised to God in a way that personal property or earnings could still be used for oneself -- but not for anybody else, including elderly and dependent parents.  My study Bible comments that secondary traditions such as this obscure the primary tradition of the Law, which is contained in the commandments of God.  Jesus quotes from Isaiah 29:13.

 

 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand:  There 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.  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"  When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.  So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also?  Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?"  And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man."  My study Bible comments here that food cannot defile a person because it is created by God and is therefore pure.  Evil things are not from God, and these things Jesus names are what defile a person.

Today's reading is extremely pertinent to a Lenten perspective.  As it is traditional that during Lent we are to focus inwardly, and to work on practices of fasting, almsgiving, and prayer, we see that Christ's teaching to His disciples directly impacts such practice.  Jesus first has a confrontation with the Pharisees and the scribes in which they criticize His disciples.  They don't follow the ceremonial washing as taught in the tradition of the elders.  The ritual washing seems to reflect a concern with eating anything deemed unclean or common in a spiritual sense.  But Jesus responds by calling out their hypocrisy, and quoting Isaiah the prophet to them in this regard.  This seems to be a very direct attack by Jesus, on a subject which gets its most full treatment in His final indictment of the religious leadership in Matthew 23.  He first uses the example of a religious gift or offering which would consist of promising one's goods to be given to the temple after death.  However, such a promise meant one could continue using property, but would be restrained from sharing it with others, such as needy parents -- and thus convening the command of the Law to honor father and mother (Exodus 20:12).  But when Jesus speaks to the multitude (which He called to Himself), His focus shifts.  This time, He is not directly rebutting the criticism of the Pharisees and scribes directed at His disciples, but He is now preaching to the crowd, teaching them an important principle of spiritual life, and our connection to God and community.  What defiles, Jesus says, is not the things that come from the outside.  Instead, Jesus says, it is "the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man."  As is often the case, such as with His parables, Jesus explains this "riddle" privately to His disciples.  It is the things of the heart which can defile us, not the foods which our body eliminates.  Jesus teaches them, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man."  That all of these evil things Jesus names come from within should give us all pause, because Lent is the time when our focus goes more strongly toward the inward things of the heart.  These are things which are not only good, such as compassion or the action of grace or the Holy Spirit, or even the faith we need in our lives.  But there are also things stored in the heart which can defile us, and that is what Jesus is talking about here.  Throughout His ministry, and especially in teaching directed at those who would be His disciples, Jesus asks us to focus on what is within, and to repent and change the things that need changing.  Repentance itself is a word that means to change in the Greek; it literally means "change of mind."  But this isn't simply an intellectual choice, which Jesus makes clear here.  This is a matter of the heart, an interior condition that may be deep within us, and which we probably need a particular level of awareness to discern about ourselves.  It's easy to be blind to our own flaws, as Jesus teaches when He asks, "And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?" in Matthew 7:1-5.  As we can read in that passage, this concept is directly linked to hypocrisy.  This also is related to the things of the heart He speaks of in today's passage.  Twice in Matthew's Gospel, He likens this process of changing one's own interior to a sense in which one must remove a hand, or foot, or eye.  When preaching against adultery, He says, "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell."  In Matthew 18, he warns the disciples about their own tendencies which would cause them to mislead the "little ones" in the Church:  "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. . . . If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire" (Matthew 18:6-9).   When we read these passages, we should consider that an eye looks in a covetous way, a hand reaches where it should not go, a foot trespasses.  The evil eye which Jesus speaks of in today's reading is associated with the way we see others, how we look or glimpse -- and in particular is associated with the harmful effects of envy and their tendency to malevolence.  This sense is one which can manifest the desire to take away or destroy the blessings of others.  Let us focus, then, on the inward things Jesus speaks about, and consider the heart.  For our prayer is meant not only to be a part of the mind, but in the historical teachings on prayer (especially in the Orthodox tradition), we're asked to pray with the "mind in the heart."  In this way, our prayers are meant to illuminate this interior place Christ asks us to focus on, so that we may cast off what truly defiles, and put our focus where it belongs.  

 

 

 

These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man

 

 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?  For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."  He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?  For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'  But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God" -- then he need not honor his father or mother.'  Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.  Hypocrites!  Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 

    'These people draw near to Me with their mouth,

    And honor Me with their lips,

    But their heart is far from Me.

    And in vain they worship Me,

    Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"

 

When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand:  Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."  Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"  But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.  Let them alone.  They are blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."  Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain this parable to us."  So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding?  Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

 

- Matthew 15:1–20 

 

On Saturday we read that, immediately after the feeding in the wilderness, Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.  And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.  Now when evening came, He was alone there.  But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.  Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.  And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!"  And they cried out for fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."  So He said, "Come."  And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.  But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"  And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."  When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.  And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.

 

Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?  For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."  The tradition of the elders is a reference to the interpretations of the Law by Jewish teachers.  Jesus will refute this charge by emphasizing the Law itself, and its intentions.

 

He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?  For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'  But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God" -- then he need not honor his father or mother.'  Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition."  My study Bible emphasizes that Christ shows that the commandment of God cannot be superseded by human religious traditions.  Devotion to God includes both obedience to His commandments and also service to others; and these two cannot be separated (see also James 2:14-18; 1 John 4:7-21).  Jesus cites the commandments in the Law found at Deuteronomy 5:16; Exodus 21:17.  In Mark 7:1-23, this tradition is identified as the practice of offerings (called "Corban") which, according to my study Bible, could be promised to God in such a way that property could be promised to God in such a way that earnings could still be used for oneself, but not for anybody else, including one's parents.

 

Hypocrites!  Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:  'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me,

Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"  Jesus quotes from Isaiah 29:13, which, as He says, describes the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees and their practices.  Here Jesus places emphasis on the state of the heart as that which determines a person's purity, which He will further elaborate in His teachings to the disciples that follow.

When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand:  Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."  Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"  But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.  Let them alone.  They are blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."  Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain this parable to us."  So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding?  Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."   Here Christ elaborates on the state of the heart, and how that affects what people do.  This is similar to His teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, in which He emphasized those habits that begin in the heart, and build to outward actions such as murder, adultery, and other abuses (see Matthew 5:21-30).

 

So, if we follow Jesus carefully, He's asking us to take care that we understand our faith, and that in what we do we're not just following forms, but fulfilling the will of God.  He's telling the scribes and Pharisees that, despite the fact that they are the experts in the law, they are more concerned with the minutiae  of the traditions that have been built up around the Law rather than the aims of the Law itself.  Indeed, when Jesus is criticizing the Pharisees for their practice, He puts two elements of the Law together to make God's aims clear.  It is most definitely not acceptable to use tradition to create harmful outcomes for parents and for one's relationship and obligation to elderly parents.  This displays, on Jesus' part, a familiarity and knowledge of Scripture that those sticking to the letter of tradition are either dismissing or don't know for themselves.  Indeed, Jesus gives us a second quotation from Scripture, that of the Prophet Isaiah, that again teaches us what insightful reading of Scripture is about, as opposed to the rigid authoritarian enforcement of tradition expressed by the scribes and Pharisees in order to criticize Christ's disciples.  So Jesus gives us three quotations, two from the Law, and one from the Prophets, to illustrate what precisely is wrong with the way that the scribes and Pharisees are using their authority in expressing a perspective on what it means to be faithful to the God of Israel.  While the scribes and Pharisees cling to a very limited picture of what it means to be devout, Christ has a more telescopic understanding of the faith.  Of course, we would expect that if we understand who Christ truly is, and accept His identity as Son and Lord.  But in the context of the scribes and Pharisees, He is someone who has come to the notice of the public, attracted multitudes to His ministry, is now known for miraculous works and healings, and has followers they don't really approve of.  In terms of authority, He has none that is apparent to them:  He's not prominent in this sense and does not come from the high priestly classes, and He's not one of them -- and neither are His supporters for the most part.  Their criticism implies the disciples' not-so-prominent social class status, but Jesus takes up the challenge in defending them vigorously and thoroughly.  So what are we supposed to learn from this, and to take from this?  Certainly in our own lives we can see such dramas play out, when we can see "outsiders" put down for their lack of familiarity with certain traditions, or perhaps we may be faced with various other types of snobbery in our churches.  There will hopefully always be new people coming into a Church, and often they may have to deal with entering into a particular culture of the group that's already formed among the membership or a particular group of parishioners.  Such a problem will always seemingly be with us and among us and in our churches.  But let us consider that Jesus is teaching, in a broader context, the compassion and aims of the Law, and that we also know Him to be the Giver of the Law.  The Law -- as is exemplified in this problem of caring for elderly parents -- is meant to enshrine and build ways of right-relatedness within a society, among the people of God.  In this ultimate aim of the Law, and of Christ's Church, particular forms of observance like performing ablutions may have meaning, but they are no substitute for the depth of the heart in reaching toward God and God's goals for us, and what kind of people we are in the living out of our faith.  Let us consider the humble, whom Jesus loved and exalted, and let us consider the outsiders we may be tempted to exclude, for when we are at Church we are not in our own home or under our own rules.   We're in God's house, we're in Christ's home, and are expected to act as part of His Body, which includes caring for the other members.   If we're truly zealous for God, then we must be zealous for the things which Christ defends and preaches, and know His word as still informing us what we are to be about.  Let us endeavor to live it, with each new challenge that will come. 

 

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

 

 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem.  Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.  For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.  When 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.  Then 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?"  He 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.

And in vain they worship Me, 

Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

"For 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."  He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.  For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'  But 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), "then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down.  And many other such things you do."

When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand:  There 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.  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"  When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.  So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also?  Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?"  And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

 

- Mark 7:1-23 

 

Yesterday we read that when evening came, the boat of the disciples was in the middle of the sea; and Christ was alone on the land, where He had remained to pray on the mountain.  Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.  Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.  And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled.  But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased.  And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.  For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.  When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.  And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was.  Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched Him were made well.   

 

 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem.  Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.  For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.  When 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.  Then 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?"  He 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.  And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'  For 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."  He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.  For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'  But 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), "then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down.  And many other such things you do."   My study Bible comments that the issue here is not the observation of Jewish customs or traditions, which Christ certainly does not prohibit (Matthew 5:17-19; 23:23).  What is, in fact, at issue here is setting human tradition contrary to the tradition of God, as Christ says.  The tradition of the elders, my study Bible explains, is a body of interpretations of the Law, which for the Pharisees and the scribes was as authoritative as the Law, and frequently superseded it.   In this tradition, offerings (called Corban) could be promised to God in a way that property or earnings could still be used for oneself, but not for anyone else -- including parents.  My study Bible says that secondary traditions such as this obscure the primary tradition of the Law, which is contained in God's commandments.  Jesus quotes from Isaiah 29:13.

When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand:  There 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.  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"  When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.  So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also?  Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?"  And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man."  My study Bible comments that food cannot defile a person because it is created by God and is therefore pure.  Evil things, such as are named here by Christ, are not from God -- and these are what defile a person.  

If we consider the topic of healing, as we did in yesterday's commentary, we might observe that once again, Jesus is giving us aspects of Himself as Physician, and what it means for us to heal and find salvation.  This is made explicitly clear when He distinguishes the difference between the traditions around washing and food consumption, and what truly defiles a person in spiritual terms.  Overall, He makes the distinction in today's reading between the commandments of God and the traditions of human beings.  Whatever good we derive from human traditions, it does not supersede the things that come from God, the divine action of grace, the Holy Spirit and God's action in the world.  Jesus makes a perfect example out of the tradition of Corban, and the treatment of parents -- who, at Christ's time, had no sort of social payment system to rely on but had primarily to rely on children and extended family if they were dependent.  (As an aside, we might note how Christ, in this strong criticism, is defending His disciples against the criticism of the Pharisees and scribes.)  We can watch our diet, we can be proud of the discipline we have, for example, in fasting, or in ways in which we follow social custom.  But there is nothing that supersedes the word of God and the commandments of God, especially in terms of our salvation and that which heals us and gives good spiritual health in God's sight.  For, as we repeatedly are given to understand, God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).  We note that Jesus quotes from the prophesy of Isaiah in which God declaims, "But their heart is far from Me."  As Jesus will do several times in the Gospels (most notably in Matthew 23), Jesus condemns hypocrisy.  Yet even this condemnation we must see through the lens of Christ as the great Physician, our Savior who heals us.  We must come to know hypocrisy as a true corrupter and poisoner of our souls, and something that provides a deep interference to salvation.  For without honesty about where our hearts truly are -- and how far or near they are to God and the love of God -- without this deepening of faith, we will not heal.  We will not be healed in the spiritual sense that Christ's salvation provides.  How can we, without being truly honest with ourselves, deepen our faith, and come to Christ in all humility?  This is vehemently stated in today's reading, as Christ gives His scathing criticism to the religious leaders.  But in effect it is teaching us about what we need for healing, what truly "defiles" and corrupts -- and we must see this in the nature of salvation and Christ's efforts to save.  We cannot deepen our faith without understanding this, and everything -- especially our healing and salvation -- depends on that movement toward Christ, our hearts drawing close to God.  Let us take it all "to heart" and understand more comprehensively Christ's healing mission in all its dimensions for us.

 

This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me

 

 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem.  Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.  For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.  When 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.  Then 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?"  He 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.

And in vain they worship Me,

Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

"For 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."  He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.  For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'  But 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), "then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down.  And many such things you do."

When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand:  There 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.  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"  When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.  So he said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also?  Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?"  And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

 

- Mark 7:1-23 

 Yesterday we read that when evening came, the boat with the disciples was in the middle of the sea; and Jesus was alone on the land (as He had gone to the mountain alone to pray).  Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.  Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.  And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled.  But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  Then He went up to the boat to them, and the wind ceased.  And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.  For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.  When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.  And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was.  Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched Him were made well.

 

Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem.  Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.  For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.  When 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.  Then 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?"  He 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.  And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'  For 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."  He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.  For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'  But 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), "then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down.  And many such things you do."  My study Bible says that the issue here is not the observation of Jewish customs or traditions, which Jesus certainly does not prohibit (Matthew 5:17-19, 23:23).  The issue here is when human tradition is set in contradiction to the tradition of God.  The tradition of the elders is a body of interpretations of the Law, which fir the Pharisees and the scribes was as authoritative as the Law, and frequently superseded it.  According to that tradition, offerings (called Corban) could be promised to God in a way that property or earnings would still be used for oneself but not for anybody else, including parents.  My study Bible adds that secondary traditions such as this obscure the primary tradition of the Law, which is contained in God's commandments.  Jesus quotes from Isaiah 29:13.

When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand:  There 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.  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"  When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.  So he said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also?  Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?"  And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man."  My study Bible comments that food cannot defile a person because it is created by God and is therefore pure.  Evil things are not from God, and those things are what defile a person.

In all things, Jesus suggests that our loyalty is to God, first, last, and always.  This is not just some abstract notion, but given with an understanding that we find God's commandments in the Scriptures.  For Christians, we have the Scriptures of Old and New Testaments, and the Old Testament Scriptures -- for us -- are read in the light of Christ, the Lord who was Incarnate in Jesus.  For us, Jesus, as He said of Himself, is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17).  Moreover, He also said of Himself that anyone who has seen Christ has seen the Father (John 14:9).  Through the Revelation, we know Christ as "the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last" (Revelation 22:13).  From this we conclude that Christ speaks through all of the Scriptures, and that He, as authority in our lives and our world, is all in all.  What does that mean for us in terms of today's reading?  It means that Christ has already pointed out for us what discernment means.  We know the Scriptures and we know His words.  Are there traditions we're asked to keep -- be they nominally "religious" or otherwise -- that are stand in contradiction to the spirit or the word of His teachings?  We know what He has taught us.  We have, for instance, the Beatitudes that teach us His notion of what a truly blessed life is in Matthew 5:1-12.  For that matter, we have the context of the Sermon on the Mount (which began with the Beatitudes), in Matthew 5 - 7.  We have the Sermon on the Plain given in Luke's Gospel (Luke 6:20-49).  These are Christ's sermons, as reported to us by the Evangelists.  Moreover, all of Christ's teachings are here in the Gospels, and we have the Epistles as well which explain to us so much about the teachings, and give us advice as given to the early Churches about how to live a Christ-centered life following His commands.  As St. Paul writes to the Corinthians, we have one Christ to follow:  "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" (1 Corinthians 1:13).  So if we come up against questions in our lives about practices that are nominally good, we have a place to go against which to test them, found in the Scriptures.  And, as one who comes from a Church with an ancient root, one may profess that the traditions of the Church must also be abiding in these teachings of Christ, including what we understand through St. Paul and other teachers of the Church throughout time.  The Church has also given us saints whose lives express the image of what it is to be dedicated to Christ.  In all of these ways and more, we can measure for ourselves what it means to put God first in our lives, and we know the standard whereby everything else from among all the things we can choose must be measured.  Possibly the most important lesson we learn today, in a world filled with a dizzying array of choices for all of us, from all kinds of sources, is that we have a standard by which we are to measure what we do, what customs we hold, what practices -- secular or otherwise -- we choose to honor in life.  Perhaps the best place to start is in prayer, for it is in being centered upon Christ that we know we are to find our answers to the questions posed to us in life.  But let us not simply honor Him "with our lips," but by understanding the love with which He guides us in life.

 

 

What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride foolishness

 

 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together with Him, having come from Jerusalem.  Now when they saw some of the disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.  For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.  When 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.  Then 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?"  He 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.

And in vain they worship Me,

Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

"For 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."  He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.  For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'  But 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), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down.  And many such things you do."  

When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand:  There 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.  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"  When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.  So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also?  Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?"  And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

 

- Mark 7:1–23 

 

Yesterday we read that when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.  Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.  Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.  And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled.  But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid."  Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased.  And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.  For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.  When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.  And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was.  Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment.  And as many as touched Him were made well.

 

Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together with Him, having come from Jerusalem.  Now when they saw some of the disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.  For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.  When 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.  Then 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?"  He 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.  And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'  For 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."  He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.  For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'  But 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), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down.  And many such things you do."  My study bible comments here that the issue Jesus is presenting isn't simply the observation of Jewish customs or traditions (which Jesus most certainly does not prohibit -- see Matthew 5:17-19, 23:23).  The real issue Jesus brings up is the setting of human tradition which is contrary to the tradition of God.  The tradition of the elders is a body of interpretations of the Law.  For the Pharisees and the scribes this body of interpretations was as authoritative as the Law.  Frequently its enforcement superseded what was in the Law.  In accordance with this tradition, one could make offerings (called Corban) which were promised to God in a way that property or earnings could still be used for oneself.  However, they couldn't be used for anyone else, including one's parents.  My study bible calls these secondary traditions, which obscure the primary tradition of the Law -- that which is contained in God's commandments.  Jesus quotes from Isaiah 29:13, regarding the lack of spiritual hearing in a people that do not want to understand God's word even as they worship, but impose instead traditions of their own.  He takes His quotations of the Law from Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16, Exodus 21:17.

When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand:  There 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.  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"   Again Jesus echoes the prophecy of Isaiah regarding those who are incapable of discerning spiritual truth in the words of the Lord (see Isaiah 6:8-10).  These words often accompany His parables as well.

When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.  So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also?  Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?"  And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man."   My study bible explains that food cannot defile a person because it is created by God and is therefore pure.  Evil things such as Jesus names are not from God.  Those are the things that defile human beings.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches, "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you" (Matthew 7:2).  So much of what Jesus teaches seems to come down to the question of judgment:  of what our judgment is, of how we hear and view and perceive others, and especially what kind of judgment we use to discern truth and the things that are of God.  What is discernment?  What is compassion?  What is it to practice mercy or to use good judgment?  Do we judge by appearances?  In today's reading, Jesus makes it very clear that if we are going to base our judgment on the truth of who we are and what our condition is, then we must use judgment that goes beyond appearance, and into the substance of what it is that makes up a human being.  He goes right to the heart of the matter when He tells the multitude, in much the same way that He explains the parables to the disciples (see this reading), that "from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man."   I wonder how many people in today's world are capable of taking these things to heart?  That is, of looking at themselves and understanding what evil is, rather than judging through appearances.  People are condemned for saying the wrong word in the wrong context, when their own understanding of what they say and their own intent is something quite different from the way it was heard by another.  When we begin to pick at what are essentially behavioral formalities and rules, and cease to judge or perceive with the heart, then we are on the track of bad judgment, of judging others in ways we ourselves hope never to be judged.  Most certainly, a blindness to one's own faults will follow.  The self-righteousness of the Pharisees (such as in today's reading, and on display in this one) seems to be mirrored today in a modern context by those who would condemn for use of a certain phrase, or whatever we might be able, in a stretch, to impute that phrase to mean.  It is a problem of the judgment by appearance, and not judgment through good judgment.  I heard a talk recently given by Professor Jordan Peterson on the importance of understanding and conceiving what evil is in the world.   Please note I'm not familiar enough with Peterson's work to endorse or to criticize; I refer simply to one segment I heard of a lecture he gave on the subject.  But I do find this advice to be significant in terms of Christ's naming of the evils that come out of a person, and which are the things about which we must know to be on guard, and especially about ourselves and our own behavior.  The fact that Jesus says that they come from within us is enough to direct us to examination and awareness of our own fallibility, and to place responsibility for such squarely upon ourselves.  Jesus does this on a number of occasions, and perhaps most clearly in the immediate words He uses following His statement on practicing judgment (in Matthew 7):  "And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:3-5).  All too often, the judgment of others without understanding, without the perceptions of the heart, without practicing one's own self-regard to find that plank in our own eye, and on the basis of some form of appearance alone, become excuses not only to disregard the sad and sorry state of one's own condition, but an excuse for one's own deafness and blindness.  By deafness and blindness, I mean the failure to hear and discern the things of God (as in Isaiah 6), and the substitution of "doctrines which are the commandments of men" (Isaiah 29:13).  There is a substitution, among far too many seemingly well-meaning people, for the root and heart of Christ's teachings on our own practice of good judgment or the lack of it, by the willingness to impute meanings to others which most obviously may not even be there, in order to condemn.  If we are to go by the endless examples in history of those times when this became common, we might truly say that this practice is indulged in merely to exonerate us from doing the work Christ has taught us to do, and that is the work of dealing with those own evils within ourselves, and the plank that is in our own eye, before we can practice good judgment in criticism of others.  The Christ of the Gospels is the One who calls us to self-awareness, to a keen, calm, and even-keeled acceptance of our own fallibility and our capacity for such.  Our faith does not call us to a childish naivete, but to an adult understanding of our own potential flaws, and coming to terms with them at the Cross of Christ, and in His gaze upon us.  Let us remember it is our own Messiah and Savior who was judged with false judgment, an Innocent sentenced to die the torturous ignoble death sentence of the worst criminals of the Roman Empire.  He stands as a warning to all of us, that "with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."  A deep awareness of the flaws within and our own capacity for evil is the only way we know to avoid the judgment that Christ promises as a return for our own false judgment.  Ultimately, Christ's teachings are about making us into mature human beings, giving us the fullness of self-understanding as well as the teachings of God which are given to us to help us to grow into the fullness of what it really means to be "god-like"; that is, made in the image and likeness of God.  In an age where our own flaws and negatives are the last thing we want to see, we need to be especially careful of our humility before God, and our understanding of the blessedness of these teachings.  Now is the time to accept them as correction for where the world fails to teach us well.