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1 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.” 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.” 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.” (Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 NIV Bible)
The Disney Movie, Inside Out, is about emotions. It was highly successful, grossing $857 million worldwide, not to mention the merchandise it produced; so there had to be a sequel called Inside Out 2. Our little grandson was a fan and when Nellie or I would ask him if he wanted to see Inside Out, he would reply, "I want to see it inside!" We laughed because we knew that since moving to New Braunfels, his family has fallen in love with drive-in movies, so apparently, Eli prefers inside movies.
The Jews have always been a clean people in terms of their laws and practices. Ritual washings and cleaning are a part of their identity. Their dietary practices were also centered on eating meals from animals deemed clean by scriptural law. And to sit at a meal, one had to be clean and not unclean. Water was present at the entrance of each home with which to wash both hands and feet before eating. As this passage opens, the religious leaders notice that some of Jesus' disciples were enjoying meal with defiled hands and thus the opening crisis; One cannot go to HEB, or Safeway, or Brookshire Brothers withouf first washing ones hands before eating! So the question is asked, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?"
The stage is set for Jesus to address a crucial aspect of spiritual health and authenticity. The Pharisees and teachers of the law were focused on outward rituals and traditions, believing that these external practices determined a person’s purity. They criticized Jesus and His disciples for not adhering to their ceremonial washing traditions.
However, Jesus redirects our attention to a deeper truth: true defilement comes not from external practices but from within the heart. It’s easy to get caught up in external displays of faith or religious activities, thinking that they make us righteous. Yet, Jesus challenges us to examine our hearts, where the true condition of our spirituality resides. Some in these parts might say that Jesus went from preaching to meddling.
The heart, in biblical terms, is the center of our thoughts, emotions, and will. It’s from the heart that both our virtues and vices spring. Jesus lists several destructive behaviors that originate from within: sexual immorality, theft, murder, and more. These are not simply actions but reflections of a deeper, inner corruption that needs transformation.
This teaching invites us to focus on the transformation of our inner selves. Instead of just performing rituals or following traditions, Jesus calls us to cultivate purity of heart. It is through this inner change that our actions and outward behaviors will align with the heart of God’s commandments.
PRAYER: Loving God,
Thank You for Your Word that cuts through our superficial understanding and calls us to a deeper, more authentic relationship with You. Lord, we confess that at times we have been like the Pharisees, focusing more on outward appearances than on the condition of our hearts. Purify our hearts and renew our spirits. Teach us to live from the inside out, reflecting Your love and righteousness in every aspect of our lives. May our actions, words, and deeds align with the true transformation You bring. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Take some time today to reflect on your own heart’s condition. Are there areas of your life where negative thoughts, attitudes, or behaviors are taking root? Ask God to reveal these areas to you and seek His guidance for transformation. Identify one negative behavior or attitude from the list Jesus mentioned (e.g., envy, deceit) that you struggle with. Make a plan for how you can address this issue. This could involve prayer, seeking accountability, or making practical changes in your daily life.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
