What does Mark 7:2 mean?
ESV: they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed.
NIV: and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed.
NASB: and saw that some of His disciples were eating their bread with unholy hands, that is, unwashed.
CSB: They observed that some of his disciples were eating bread with unclean--that is, unwashed--hands.
NLT: They noticed that some of his disciples failed to follow the Jewish ritual of hand washing before eating.
KJV: And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
NKJV: Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.
Verse Commentary:
To understand the context of this passage, some background information is necessary.
The Mosaic Law says that meat that has touched something unclean should not be eaten (Leviticus 7:19). If a food container is touched by a dead mouse or lizard, it and the food it holds is unclean (Leviticus 11:29–34). Food is very specifically divided in the Old Testament. There is that which is clean to eat, such as lamb or goat. Then, there is that which is unclean and must not be eaten, such as shrimp, or camel meat. If a person eats unclean food, the prescribed punishment is: nothing. The Mosaic Law does not give a punishment for breaking kosher laws (Leviticus 11).
Typically, a person would become ceremonially unclean because of touching a dead person or a non-kosher animal, or from having a discharge of some kind. As a result, they were not allowed to eat the peace offering (Leviticus 7:19–21). A peace offering is a voluntary expression of thanks wherein a person takes an animal or some grain to the temple and gives it to the priest. The priest burns some of it and gives the rest to the offeror and to the poor to eat. In order to break the law, the person would have to be knowingly unclean when they intentionally travel to the temple and perform the offering. They would then be cut off from their people (Leviticus 7:11–21).
When God gave Moses instructions to build the tabernacle, He included a large bronze basin filled with water. Aaron and subsequent priests are to wash their hands and feet before entering the tabernacle or approaching the altar to present a food offering (Exodus 30:17–21).
The scribes' and Pharisees' hand-washing tradition is based on Exodus 30, when it comes to priests. However, they disregard the intended application of Leviticus 11, regarding kosher laws. The religious leaders want a ceremonial cleanness that approaches that of a priest entering the temple, so they symbolically replicate the priests' hand-washing before eating food purchased at the marketplace. They wash their hands, and possibly the food, in case they have accidentally touched something or someone unclean. They expect the same diligence from other devout Jews.
Their thought process is that if their food is contaminated and made unclean, it will defile them when they eat it. "Defile" is from the Greek root word koinos. Literally, it means common or ordinary. In regard to the ceremonial law, it means unclean or profane. Jesus has a completely different interpretation. He says that what goes into a person's digestive system cannot make them unclean. Uncleanness comes only from a hardened heart—which the scribes and Pharisees have despite their legalism.
Verse Context:
Mark 7:1–13 argues that the traditions of Jewish elders are twisted interpretations of the Mosaic Law that hide the purpose of that law. Washing is a particular requirement of priests and has nothing to do with ensuring the ceremonial cleanness of a meal. And keeping a rash oath does not relieve a child from the commandment to care for his parents. In their attempt to add to the ceremonial law, the elders subtract from the moral law. They find that anyone who attempts to find salvation through works will end up stumbling on Christ (Romans 9:30–33). This story is also found in Matthew 15:1–9.
Chapter Summary:
Jesus counters another traditional error from the scribes and Pharisees, explaining that food in and of itself does not make a person unclean. Rather, it is the intent of the heart that matters to God. He specifically condemns traditions which effectively undo the original intent of God's commands. Jesus heals the daughter of a persistent Gentile woman, and a man suffering from deafness and a speech impediment.
Chapter Context:
After showing His authority over demons, death, and physics, Jesus asserts His superiority over manmade traditions. For generations, Jewish religious leaders have added to the Law in an attempt to keep the nation holy. Such traditions, however, serve to make the leaders look good but unnecessarily burden the people. Jesus argues in word and action that any law that dismisses love is either misinterpreted or manmade.
Book Summary:
The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.
Accessed 4/29/2024 12:42:00 PM
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