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Bible Reference

Mark 7:1-23
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Traditions and Commandments

1pNow when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes qwho had come from Jerusalem, 2they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were rdefiled, that is, unwashed. 3(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly,1 holding to sthe tradition of tthe elders, 4and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash.2 And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as uthe washing of vcups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.3) 5And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to sthe tradition of tthe elders, wbut eat with rdefiled hands?” 6And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you xhypocrites, as it is written,

y“‘This people honors me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me;

7in vain do they worship me,

teaching as zdoctrines the commandments of men.’

8You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

9And he said to them, “You have a fine way of arejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10For Moses said, b‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, c‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)4 12then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13thus dmaking void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

What Defiles a Person

14And he called the people to him again and said to them, e“Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15fThere is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”5 17And when he had entered gthe house and left the people, hhis disciples asked him about the parable. 18And he said to them, “Then iare you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19since it enters not his heart jbut his stomach, and is expelled?”6 (kThus he declared all foods clean.) 20And he said, l“What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, mmurder, adultery, 22coveting, wickedness, deceit, nsensuality, oenvy, pslander, qpride, rfoolishness. 23sAll these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Footnotes

  • 1 7:3 Greek unless they wash the hands with a fist, probably indicating a kind of ceremonial washing
  • 2 7:4 Greek unless they baptize; some manuscripts unless they purify themselves
  • 3 7:4 Some manuscripts omit and dining couches
  • 4 7:11 Or an offering
  • 5 7:15 Some manuscripts add verse 16: If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear
  • 6 7:19 Greek goes out into the latrine
Displaying 1-5 of 5 sermons for this passage.

Letting Mark’s Gospel Tell the Gospel

Mark 1:1–16:20 Sermon 59:49 ID: GS979

Scripture and Tradition — Part One

Mark 7:1–8 Sermon Includes Transcript 45:11 ID: 2727

Scripture and Tradition — Part Two

Mark 7:9–13 Sermon Includes Transcript 35:10 ID: 2728

The Heart of the Matter

Mark 7:14–23 Sermon Includes Transcript 42:28 ID: 2729

The Present Kingdom — Part One

Matthew 1:1 – John 21:25 Sermon Includes Transcript 37:00 ID: 2392

Displaying 1-2 of 2 series for this passage.

A Study in Mark, Volume 3

Prophet, Shepherd, Healer, and Provider Mark 6:6–8:21 Series ID: 14103

The Kingdom of God, Volume 2

Matthew 1:1 – Revelation 22:21 Series ID: 26802