MARK 7 - That which defiles

NOTES BY VERSE

Note: each ** comment in this document is listed in numerical order according to the verse(s) from this chapter

** God cares more about the condition of our heart than whether we follow man's rules or traditions; rules that often nullify the Word of God

• The religious leaders wanted to talk about ritual hand-washing while Jesus was dedicated to a heart relationship with the Lord

• They were concerned with externals; Jesus was committed to cleansing the inner man

• Inward and outward religion comes into conflict whenever we place more stress on behavior than motive, and on symbolic actions than interpersonal relationships

• Sunday go-to-meeting faces and well-pressed clothes have never been an adequate measure of participation in Christ’s kingdom  <R1795>

Mark 7:5-9 NIV

[5] So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?” [6] He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “ 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. [7] They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.' [8] You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” [9] And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!

Mark 7:13-15 NIV

[13] Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” [14] Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. [15] Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”

** The Pharisees were looking for a different kind of a Messiah than Jesus. They were looking for someone who would support their religious system and their chosen way of living, someone who would cater to their whims and conform to their wishes.  <L120>

Mark 7:6 NIV

[6] He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “ 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

** Jesus finished preaching the sermon on the mount (Matt 5-7) and wanted His listeners to decide which path they were going to take

• Follow the true way to salvation through Christ (divine accomplishment) OR

• Follow a false religion (human achievement)

• The two options cannot be mixed and are not compatible  <M130>

Matthew 7:13-14 NIV

[13] “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. [14] But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Romans 11:6 NIV

[6] And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

Galatians 1:6-7 NIV

[6] I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--- [7] which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.

Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

[8] For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith---and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--- [9] not by works, so that no one can boast.

** The Christian’s primary concern should be what comes out of the heart; this falls in line with the understanding that it is not wrong to be tempted but it is wrong to act on the temptation

Mark 7:15 NIV

[15] Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”

Mark 7:19-23 NIV

[19] For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.) [20] He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. [21] For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come---sexual immorality, theft, murder, [22] adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. [23] All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

** Stop evaluating people by what is seen at the surface level, as the world does, but rather be concerned about what is on the inside; as the saying goes, “beauty is skin deep”

• The Pharisees in Jesus’ day were in the pursuit of righteousness and wanted to be recognized by their works, but when True Righteousness came to live among them they did not submit to His righteousness and killed Him  <S193>

• If we looked at Christ from the world’s view – by what we see and observe – then He would seem a failure

• Paul said Christians are to look at their fellow believer from God’s point of view and recognize they are a new creation

• Regardless of what a believer may be now, one day they will become a living example of the triumph of God’s saving grace  <R1795>

2 Corinthians 5:16 NIV

[16] So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.

Matthew 23:25-26 NIV

[25] “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. [26] Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

Mark 7:15 NIV

[15] Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”

** Jesus revealed that salvation can come to the Gentile as well as the Jew  <G72>

• Jews considered Gentiles to be unclean in the religious sense rather than ethnic sense

• In the text, the woman is not offended by Jesus’ words; instead, she acknowledges the way she is viewed by the Jews

• Her response demonstrates both humility and faith

• Gentiles can also benefit from Jesus’ mission, even though His priority at that time was the Jews

• While accepting that Jesus came to feed the 'children' (Jews), she asserts that the 'dogs' (Gentiles) need whatever Jesus has to offer, even if it is only in little quantities

• Jesus' interaction with the Canaanite woman served as a lesson for the disciples that even Gentiles can exhibit faith, further revealing that sin is what makes a person unclean, not traditions or ethnicity

Mark 7:26-30 NIV

[26] The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. [27] “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” [28] “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” [29] Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” [30] She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

** Jesus utilized varied methods perhaps to deter imitators; it was Jesus' (God's) power He was sharing, not some formula

Mark 7:32-35 NIV

[32] There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. [33] After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. [34] He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). [35] At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

** God’s restoration in the millennial kingdom will include physical restoration of the afflicted  <M130>

Isaiah 35:6 NIV

[6] Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

Matthew 11:5 NIV

[5] The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

Mark 7:37 NIV

[37] People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Luke 7:21 NIV

[21] At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.

Acts 3:6-8 NIV

[6] Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” [7] Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. [8] He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.