Mark 7:1-8, Traditions and Commandments

1 Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem [it looks like another fact-finding commission has come to Galilee], 2 they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. [Biased from the start, they were looking for any reason to attack Jesus, even though his ministry had been astounding. They go after Jesus via his disciples who have not washed their hands!] 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders [tradition versus divine mandates given in the Law of Moses], 4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) [This is a parenthetical comment by Mark about the Pharisees and their man-made practices for the benefit of his Gentile readers. Some of this reminds me of the various Covid restrictions and recommendations we had, especially regarding Communion.] 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” [Paul calls himself overzealous in Galatians 1:14, which is exactly what these Pharisees are, taking the Law and expanding it beyond the Lord’s instructions.] 6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah [29:13] prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,

“‘This people honors me with their lips,    

but their heart is far from me;

7 in vain do they worship me,    

teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

8 You leave the commandment of God [the Law of Moses] and hold to the tradition of men.” [Why does Jesus use the strong accusation in the phrase “you hypocrites”? He sees in their insincere attitude a fulfillment of biblical prophecy. They claim to use the Scriptures to make their case, but actually the Scriptures testify against them as they substitute their traditions for the authority of God’s law.]