Mark 7:9-19, Deceitful and Desperately Wicked (3)

Jesus accused the Pharisees of teaching the commandments of men as if they were the word of God.  He didn’t just make this up, as He went on to illustrate.  They did this in all their rules about hand-washing (v8).  But Jesus went into more detail in the matter of taking care of one’s parents. 

The law clearly said, in the Ten Commandments, to honor your father and mother.  This was not just for children in the home who need to respect and obey their parents.  It also included care of one’s parents when they got older and were unable to financially care for themselves.  The Jews had devised a way to get more money for the temple offerings and thus for the religious leaders who received those offerings.  If a person had money that could be used for the care of their parents, but declared that money “corban,” or a gift for God, he could give it in the temple offering instead of to his parents.  He would do this to improve his own standing with the religious leaders and perhaps to gain some “dispensation” or forgiveness for some wrong he had done.  The parents would not be able to do anything about it.  What parents would criticize a son for giving his money to God? 

All these things Jesus said to the Pharisees and scribes who had accused Him.  What they had done was to “make the word of God of no effect through their tradition.”  That is a serious charge.  But as we said, the people were still responsible so Jesus then turned His attention to the people.

·       Instruction: Jesus gives the truth (v14-16) and clarifies with an explanation.

The principle Jesus stated is in v15.  It is not hard, other than it was contrary to what they were used to hearing from their leaders.  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.  Jesus followed these words by say, If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!  He frequently spoke these words.  He recognized even simple spiritual truth would not be accepted apart from the work of God. 

Jesus proved this in the closing verses (v17-23).  Even Jesus’ disciples needed further explanation.  His initial answer (Are you thus without understanding also?  Do you not perceive …?) indicated that this was not that hard, and yet they needed further help.  Again, why was this so hard?  It was Satan that blinded Israel.  Paul said, their minds the god of this age has blinded (2 Cor. 4:4).  But Paul also said, those who were blinded were already perishing (4:3).  The people had been confused, even blinded, by the teaching of their religious leaders.  But they were already perishing, not having what was needed to understand spiritual truth (Deut. 29:4).  What is always needed is the work of God, who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6).