1. The key words of Jesus responses to the charge to His disciples
‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me.
7 They worship me in vain,
teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.’
Why their worship is in vain or just lip-service or being a hypocrite v.6? It is because their heart was far from God. How do we know their hearts? From what they taught others as doctrine. It was not the WOG, but the commandments of men.
2. What were the proofs that they taught men's commandments as doctrine:
A. v.1 they came from Jerusalem to observe what J and His disciples did (BKC-Jesus and His followers [were] presumably at Capernaum (cf. 7:17). BECNT-Mark’s description of the scribes having come from Jerusalem indicates that they have come from the center of opposition toward Jesus and represent the leaders of Israel. Whether they were on an official mission to spy out Jesus cannot be determined.)
This is not just a causal efforts for correcting other people's teaching. It must be something they saw as very important and they were investigating on Jesus and His teachings.
B. repeated word: hold fast v.3, 4 (BDAG-to adhere strongly to, hold...of commitment to someone or someth. hold fast (to) someone or someth., and hence remain closely united)
They devoted their mind to this tradition and loyal to it.
repeated word: unclean hands v.2, ritual washing v.3, tradition of the elders v.3, other traditons v.4, tradition of the elders v.5, unwashed hands v.5
It is pretty obvious what was important to them.
C. v.5 they assumed that living according to the tradition of the elders were abiding to all
BKC-In reply Jesus made no reference to His disciples’ conduct. Rather He addressed two issues underlying the inquiry: (a) the true source of religious authority—tradition or Scripture (Mark 7:6–13), and (b) the true nature of defilement—ceremonial and moral (vv. 14–23)...Their worship (a pious act) of God was in vain (matēn, “futile”) because like the Jews of Isaiah’s day they were teaching the rules of men as authoritative (divine) teachings.
Reflection: What do I see as authority to me is a violation to my worship to God. Jesus did not want us to have 2 seats of authority in our hearts.
What do I see as some important that I keep repeating in teaching others? What do I see as important that I will make my effort and devote my life to it? What do I see as so important that everyone should live accordingly? And finally, what do I see as so important that God's rule become less important v.11?
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