The Context (Mark 7:1-5)

The Scribes: devoted to preserving and defending God’s law (Ezra 7). The Tradition: thousands of unwritten extrabiblical rules that dictated how the OT Law was to be applied. Viewed as more authoritative than the actual Word of God! The Pharisees: religious party committed to perfectly practicing the teaching of the Scribes. What have I clung to “religiously” that does not move me towards an authentic relationship with Jesus? What religious practices do I do with man as my audience instead of God?

Did God teach clean and unclean? Yes (Leviticus 11-15; Exodus 30:17-21 priest only). Through this emphasis, God was constantly pointing them to their spiritual and moral uncleanness and their need for purification before coming into the presence of a Holy God.    

What is God’s heart behind all of his commandments? (1John 5:3)

The Critique (Mark 7:6-13)

“You hypocrites! You think you are relating to God, but you are NOT.  Your way of worshipping Me is in vain!  What’s worse, you are misrepresenting Me to the people I love. As leaders you are supposed to champion God’s Law, but you are neglecting it, setting it aside, invalidating it in favor of your tradition. You can drive a semi-truck through the blind spot in your life (Matt 23).” Where do I give lip service to living God’s Way, while truly never intending to follow His Way? Am I guilty of looking for loop holes in God’s commandments?

The Clarification (7:14-23)

“I agree with you that my disciples’ are unclean.  But not because of their disobedience to your tradition.  My disciples are unclean – and YOU are unclean – and everyone is unclean because EVERYONE’S heart is defiled (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:12; 23)! You are deceived. You are living under the illusion that on the inside you are good and godly and that any potential defilement in your life comes from the OUTSIDE (Luke 18:11-12) You got it all wrong!  Your problem is not outside of you…it’s inside of you” (James 1:13-15) How does today’s world tend to respond to this foundational teaching from Jesus? How do you respond? 

The Cliffhanger (7:24) “Jesus got up and went…”

Jesus just drops the mic and walks away.  What is the solution to my unclean heart?  

The Confirmation (7:24-37)

What is significant about the people to whom Jesus minsters through the rest of chapter 7? (Acts 10:28; Galatians 3:28-29; Ephesians 2:14; Colossians 3:11; Hebrews 8:13). Where am I currently making unbiblical distinctions between people made in God’s image?