Mark 7:1-5: a reflection

1Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered together to him, having come from Jerusalem. 2Now when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is unwashed, hands, they found fault. 3(For the Pharisees and all the Jews don’t eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4They don’t eat when they come from the marketplace unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things which they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and couches.) 5The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why don’t your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?”

The Pharisees and scribes come to Jesus with a complaint. They have seen some of his disciples eating with unwashed hands, and this troubles them, because it violates the tradition of the elders, the elaborate rules of ceremonial washing they carefully kept. Why, they ask, do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands? Their concern is entirely with the outward observance, the ceremonial rule, the human tradition.

Notice what these religious leaders were focused on: an external, ceremonial matter, a human tradition about washing. There was nothing wrong with washing hands; but they had made such traditions the measure of faithfulness, fixating on the outward and the ceremonial while, as Jesus would go on to show, neglecting the weightier matters of the heart. They strained over the surface and missed the substance; they were troubled by unwashed hands while untroubled by unclean hearts.

That is a danger for religious people in every age. It is easy to fixate on outward forms, on the traditions and observances we can see and measure, and to take these as the mark of true devotion, while neglecting the inward reality, the state of the heart, that God most cares about. Examine whether your own religion has become a matter of externals, of keeping the outward forms, while the heart is neglected. God looks not first at washed hands but at a clean heart, not first at outward observance but at inward love and obedience. Do not major on the externals while missing the substance; give your first attention to the heart, which is what God sees, and let the outward flow from a heart that is right with him.

Lord, the Pharisees faulted your disciples over a matter of ceremonial washing, a human tradition, fixating on the outward while neglecting the heart; they were troubled by unwashed hands but untroubled by unclean hearts. Guard me from that same danger. It is easy for me to fixate on outward forms, on the observances I can see and measure, and to take these as the mark of true devotion, while neglecting the inward reality, the state of my heart, that you most care about. Examine whether my religion has become a matter of externals while my heart is neglected. Help me remember that you look not first at washed hands but at a clean heart, not first at outward observance but at inward love and obedience. Keep me from majoring on the externals and missing the substance. Give your first attention to my heart, Lord, and let my outward life flow from a heart that is right with you.