Mark lesson 16
Read Mark 7:1-23 – https://www.bible.com/bible/59/mrk.7.esv


Mark 7:1-13
The Pharisees and scribes challenged the disciples because they ate with unwashed hands. The issue here was not hygiene, but religious ritual. The Pharisees had developed elaborate cleansing procedures that they believed were a part of God's will. The truth is, God had never commanded these washings; they were simply the doctrines and traditions of men. Jesus answered His critics by pointing out the difference between God-­‐given commandments and human traditions. He showed that their insistence on following rules established by men caused them to actually break God's law. He cited the case of "Corban." This was a Jewish tradition that prohibited a person from using his resources to provide for his aging parents if he had previously declared those resources "dedicated" to God. Their obedience to men's doctrines led them to disregard God's will.


Note -­‐-­‐ Men's doctrines vs. God's commands: Men continue to follow their own traditions and doctrines rather than God's word. Just like the scribes and Pharisees, peopl e today believe that their doctrines actually are God's will. They haven't learned how to distinguish between unnecessary rules and binding commands. Jesus showed how easy it is to tell the difference: Look at their source. Any religious practice or teaching that comes from man is wrong; those which come from God are right. We should examine everything we do to see whether it comes from God or man. Everything from God is in the Bible. So if what l believe isn't taught by Scripture, I can know it must be from man.


1. What criticism did the Pharisees and scribes raise against Jesus' disciples? Answer: The disciples did not _____ their hands before they _____ food.
2. What was the authority behind this religious practice? Answer: It was a _____ of the elders.
3. What did Jesus say about service to God that is based on the doctrines of men (v7)? Answer: He said their worship was _____


Mark 7:14-23.
The Pharisees focused primarily on external things. But Jesus showed that what actually defiles a person are the things inside his heart. In the Bible, the heart refers to the mind or spirit of man. Every sin germinates and grows within man's spirit and is then expressed in external action. In this way, the Lord showed how foolish it was for the Pharisees to seek external purity by a ritual hand-­‐washing procedure. This principle also proved that God no longer had rules prohibiting the eating of certain foods.


Note -­‐-­‐ We need a heart check-­‐up: Jesus' words should motivate us to carefully examine our own heart. If not detected and cured, our heart disease will result in all kinds of sin, such as greed, envy, pride, and lust. We must care for our heart by feeding on the pure Word of God and constantly seeking the Lord.


4. What causes a person to be defiled? Answer: A person is defiled by things that come out of his _____