The Gospel of Mark (Part 21)

Date: 28 September 2025

Speaker: Justus Swart

In Mark 7:1–23 we see tension building between Jesus and the religious establishment. A delegation of Pharisees and teachers of the law travels from Jerusalem to challenge Him—not over Scripture but over the traditions of the elders. They criticise the disciples for eating without ceremonially washed hands, revealing how they had elevated man-made rules above God’s commands. Jesus responds by quoting Isaiah, exposing their hypocrisy and showing that outward rituals cannot substitute for true devotion. He points out that traditions can actually nullify God’s Word when they are treated as divine law, warning against the danger of holding personal preferences and customs at the same level as Scripture.

Turning to the crowd, Jesus explains that uncleanness does not come from what enters a person but from what comes out of the heart. Evil thoughts, immorality, greed, envy, slander, arrogance—even folly—flow from within and defile a person. In doing so, He shifts the focus from external appearances to internal reality, reminding His listeners that only God sees the heart. This passage challenges us to examine our own lives: to guard against hypocrisy, to hold Scripture above tradition, and to extend grace rather than judgment, allowing God to transform our hearts instead of trying to appear righteous outwardly.