Daily Devotions
Mark
2 Peter 1:6 "To perseverance godliness..."
Day 155 – Mark 7
“To perseverance godliness…” 2 Peter 1:6
SCRIBES AND PHARISEES FROM JERUSALEM
Time and again, the scribes and Pharisees attempted to embarrass Jesus. They wanted to shame Him publicly, if they could. They took pride in their knowledge of the Scriptures, and they tried to discredit Jesus whenever they had opportunity. The following text describes how the scribes and Pharisees sought to attack Jesus.
“Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together
to Him, having come from Jerusalem.
Now when they saw some of His Disciples eat bread with defiled,
that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.”
MARK 7:1-2
AN EXPLANATORY NOTE
To help his readers understand the background, Mark made the following notation.
“For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat
unless they wash their hands in a special way,
holding the tradition of the elders. When they
come from the marketplace, they do not eat
unless they wash. And there are many other things
which they have received and hold, like the washing
of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.”
MARK 7:3-4
1. The extent of influence is noted
The practice of ritual washing before meals was not confined to the Pharisees. “All the Jews” were to a large extent influenced by them.
2. The tradition of the Elders
Mark correctly pointed out that this practice was not drawn from the Scriptures, but from the traditions passed down from their elders. These traditions were so powerful they influenced all of Israel.
3. Not just a matter of ritual washing of the hands before meals
Mark noted that ritual washing extended to other things:-
a) Utensils for cooking
b) Household articles like couches
Everything seemed to be “unclean” to the scribes and Pharisees. All articles must be ritually cleansed or they are considered unfit for use or consumption!
It was inevitable that there would be other clashes between the Pharisees with Jesus on yet another matter- ritual washing!