Study 14 From The Book of Mark is: Mark 7:1-23
- No-one would dispute the earnestness of the Pharisees in observing
genuine historical traditions, aimed at the honouring of God. Why then should Christ use such strong
language in condemning then (verse 6), and how does He show up their
inconsistency?
- Notice in verses 21-23 that Christ makes no distinction
between sins of thought and sins of deed; they all alike defile a
man. Cf. Mt. 5:28. Are we seeking
deliverance from the uncleanness of an evil heart? Or, like the Pharisees,
are we content with a fair appearance outwardly?
- Verses 17, 18a. Why do
you think the discipleship were so slow to understand some of Christ’s simplest
teaching? Are we perhaps also at fault here? If so, what ought we to do
about it? Cf. Jn. 14:26.
Notes
- Verse 3. ‘The tradition of the elders’: i.e., rules and
regulations drawn up by past generations of scribes to guide people how to
act. The Pharisees were those who
made it their aim to walk strictly according to this ‘tradition’. They
regarded themselves, and were regarded by others, as ‘the righteous’.
- Verse 6. ‘The Lord here both quotes Scripture and adds to it,
thereby interpreting it’ and establishing His own authority.
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