Wash Inside and Out

 Mark 7: 1-13

That Which Defiles

7 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus ² and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. ³ (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. ⁴ When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)

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! ¹⁰ For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’^{[e] 11} But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— ¹² then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. ¹³ Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”

We see today how Jesus again comes down hard on the Pharisees (and all who simply fulfill the letter of the law and carry out its directives superficially). It's not just external observances to be seen and applauded, but a disposition of the heart.  The cleansing of motives, of relationships which spring from the heart, is more important than washing the dirt off of one's hands or feet. How often do we just try to "get by" in observing the letter, rather than making in the internal adjustments needed to live an authentic Christian life?  With Lent a week and a day away from us, we might examine our actions and motives to see if they match, and then determine what we can do to clean the inside of our cup as part of our Lenten regimen.

Bro. Rene