Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees involved both “admonition” (calling attention to sin, v6-13) and “instruction (explaining the truth, v14-23).
· Admonition: Jesus gives the truth (v6-8) and proves it with an illustration.
Jesus was being criticized based on man-made applications to the Law of Moses. The Pharisees concluded publicly that Jesus was a “law breaker.” Jesus instead condemns the Pharisees, basing His judgment on the word of God. He quotes Isa. 29:13 (in v6-7) where the LORD accuses Israel of raising the commandments of men to the level of the doctrines of Scripture.
Let’s take a look at the entire passage in Isaiah 29 so you can see that, as always when Jesus quotes Scripture (the Old Testament) He is true to the context.
o 29:9-10: The LORD was addressing the prophets and seers, those who claimed to speak for God in OT Israel. These men were not getting it right. It was as if they were drunk or just awakening from a deep sleep.
o 29:11-12: God’s vision had come but they were unable to understand it. It was as if they could read, but the book was sealed; or they were illiterate and unable to read anything. Jesus, in Mark 7, was dealing with these men from Jerusalem who considered themselves to be those who spoke God’s word accurately to the people. Jesus was using the same words of Isaiah because the context was the same: religious leaders who were unable to accurately understand the word of the LORD and were leading the people astray.
o 29:13: These are the words Jesus quoted. The people were hypocrites because they did not come to God based on God’s word but on men’s words.
o 29:14: Because of their disobedience the LORD promised to do a “marvelous work.” Don’t be fooled by this. You might assume it is a marvelous work of God’s grace and mercy, but it is not. It is a marvelous work of vengeance, of God’s wrath. Isaiah was speaking of the coming judgment that involved the Babylonian captivity. Habakkuk spoke of the same judgment, also calling it a “work you will not believe” (Hab. 1:5). Jesus used this passage because He also warned Israel of an upcoming day of judgment (the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD; cf. Lk. 21:20-22). The Apostle Paul in Ac. 13:41 quoted Hab. 1:5 in speaking of the coming judgment on the Jews.
Be sure that you see what Jesus is saying. The Pharisees were at fault and condemned because they did not proclaim the truth of God to the people. But the people were also at fault because they did not believe the truth. Deceived people are not excused because of those who deceive them. They, and we, must wholeheartedly seek the LORD. As the Psalmist prayed, With my whole heart I will seek You; let me not wander from Your commandments (Ps. 119:9-11).
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