1. Context
(BKC) This passage returns to the theme of conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders (cf. Mark 2:1–3:6). It emphasizes the rejection Jesus encountered in Israel (cf. 3:6, 19–30; 6:1–6a) despite His public popularity (cf. 6:53–56)...The words “unclean” (7:2, 5, 15, 18, 20, 23) and “tradition” (vv. 3, 5, 8, 9, 13) bind the section together.
2. The Pharisees and some of the scribes came all the way from Jerusalem to gather around Jesus. They criticized Jesus' disciples for eating with the *unclean hands according to their tradition v.1-5. Jesus did not even answered their charge. Instead, He went straight to the heart of the problem: they were hypocrites and their worship was in vain as they centered in human commandments (not God's commandments) v.6-12.
3. a. v. 14 Then he called the crowd again and said to them,
R.W. Listen, understand v.14; defile x2 v.15
Why use the word again? Was this a continuation of the previous section? Was Jesus trying to make the crowd think when He pointed out the problem of the clean/unclean tradition of the P and the S? What did the P and S think when J doing it in front of the crowd?
b. v.18 He said to them, “Are you so foolish? Don’t you understand that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him? 19 For it does not enter his heart...
foolish-BDAG bringing together of things or persons (juncture of two rivers Hom., Od. 10, 515), then to inward organization (‘understanding’); one who lacks σύνεσις is void of understanding, senseless, foolish, implying also a lack of high moral quality
J had a higher expectation of His disciples over the crowd. (EBC) Although the disciples had already spent considerable time with Jesus and belonged to the inner circle of his concern, they were slow to grasp the meaning of his teaching. Jesus expressed surprise at this: “Are you so dull?” (v. 18), i.e., “After all the time I have spent with you, do you still not comprehend spiritual truth?”
Reflection: With more time following Jesus comes the expectation of better comprehension of the truth? Am I meeting that expectation? Or I just being lazy with my time?
Defilement only occurs when something enter one's heart and what comes out of a person's heart v.20-21, 23. (1) That happened when the P and S worshipped God with a higher view of the human commandments over God's commandments e.g. v.11-13. Their heart was far from God. v.6-7. (2) the list of v.21-22.
Reflection: Putting the wrong emphasis on food/tradition blinds the eyes of the P and S. They thought they worshipped God and were good enough to challenge what Jesus' disciples were doing. In fact, they themselves were the one being defiled by their own hearts. Am I like that? Is my highest standard is nothing but God's Word? Is the center of my focus God or something else?
Heart is the center of the battle. Do I allow the evil thoughts to come out to defile me? If I am not under the control of the HS many evil things are waiting to come out.
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