True Spirituality

Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “All of you listen,” He said, “and try to understand. It is not what goes into your body that defiles (pollutes) you; you are defiled (polluted, unholy) by what comes from your heart.” Then Jesus went into a house to get away from the crowd, and His disciples asked Him what He meant by the parable He had just used. “Don’t you understand either?” He asked. “Can’t you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile (pollute) you? Food does not go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.” (By saying this, He declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God’s eyes.) And then He added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles (pollutes) you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander (insult), pride, and foolishness. All these vile (evil) things come from within; they are what defile (pollute) you.” Mark 7:14-23 (NLT)

Throughout Mark’s Gospel, Mark emphasized Jesus’ active public ministry. However in Mark 7:1-8:26, Mark records some of Jesus’ most important teachings and His ministry amongst the Gentiles (non-Jews).

First, Mark 7:1-23 records Jesus’ teaching on inner purity (see also Matthew 15:1-20). Mark 7 begins with Jesus’ confrontation with religious leaders. During Jesus’ public ministry, many religious leaders from Jerusalem investigated and tested Him to authenticate His ministry (Mark 7:1; see also Matthew 15:1). These religious leaders included Pharisees, scribes and other experts of the Law. These leaders have been Jesus’ principal enemies from the beginning phase of His public ministry (e.g., see Mark 2:6-7, 16; Mark 3:6, 22).

During Jesus’ investigation, the religious leaders noted that Jesus’ disciples failed to obey the many Jewish religious rituals before eating (Mark 7:2; see also Matthew 15:2). For the Jews, especially the Pharisees, did eat until they had sprinkled their arms to the elbows, as required by their ancient traditions (Mark 7:3; see also Matthew 15:2; Luke 11:38; John 2:6). These ritual washings had nothing to do with personal hygiene or cleanliness, nor were these rituals commanded in the Law of Moses. These traditional cleansing rituals were a part of the many traditions that the scribes and Pharisees had given to the people to add to their burdens (Matthew 23:4; see also Matthew 11:28-30; Luke 11:46). Jesus had previously violated many of the religious leaders’ Sabbath traditions and regulations (e.g. see Mark 2:23-3:5).

These Jewish rituals did not come from the Law of Moses but from many ancient rules and rituals created by men, also called “traditions of the elders” (Mark 7:3, 5, 8; see also Matthew 15:2; Galatians 1:14; Colossians 2:8). These man-made rituals and traditions were also called “the fence of the Law.” After the Babylonian exile, the Jewish rabbis began to make meticulous rules and regulations governing the daily life of the people. These traditions were interpretations and applications of the Law of Moses, handed down from generation to generation. The Pharisees and teachers of the law considered these traditions equally important as the Mosaic Law. These traditions of the elders were not the Law, but their intentions were to protect the Law of Moses. These traditions were originally the “oral law” that (according to Jewish rabbis) Moses gave to the elders, and these passed down to the nation. This oral law was finally written down and became the Mishnah. Sadly, these traditions became more important and more authoritative than the original Law of Moses. Even worse, many of these traditions had become empty rituals that resulted in pride and religious isolation. These traditions focused on outwardly holiness but ignored the important inwardly holiness – mercy, justice, faithfulness, humility, and the love of God (Mark 7:4; see also Deuteronomy 6:5; Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 23:23, 25; Luke 11:39-42).

So the religious leaders asked Jesus, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders?” (Mark 7:5, NKJV). Jesus replied, “You bunch of hypocrites (pretenders)! Isaiah the prophet described you very well when he said, ‘These people speak very beautifully about the Lord but they have no love for Him at all. Their worship is a farce (nothing), for they claim that God commands the people to obey their petty rules’” (Mark 7:6-7, TLB, quoting Isaiah 29:13; see also Matthew 15:7-9). Remarkably, the religious leaders were disobeying the living Word of God and substituting God’s Law for their man-made traditions (Mark 7:8; see also Hebrews 4:12). In other words, the religious leaders were rejecting and breaking the spirit of God’s Law for the sake of practicing their traditions (Mark 7:9; see also Matthew 15:3; Luke 21:33; Colossians 2:20-22).

Jesus gave the religious leaders an illustration of their disobedience to God’s specific Law with their practice of “Corban” (Mark 7:10-13; see also Matthew 15:4-7). Moses gave the people this Law from God: “Honor your father and mother and . . . Anyone who speaks against his father or mother must die” (Mark 7:10, TLB; quoting Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16; Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9; see also Ephesians 6:1-2). The man-made traditions not from God’s written Word said, “it is perfectly all right for a man to disregard his needy parents, telling them, ‘Sorry, I cannot help you! For I have given to God what I could have given to you’” (Mark 7:11, TLB). Instead of using their wealth to support their needy parents, these irresponsible religious people would dedicate that wealth to God. The Hebrew word Corban means “a gift.” If a Jew wanted to escape some financial responsibilities, he would declare his goods or wealthy to be “Corban — a gift to God.” Thus, these people would no longer use that particular wealth for their needy parents (Mark 7:12; see also Matthew 15:5-6). These people continued to get the benefit of that wealth, even though that gift technically belonged to God. This meant a Jew was free from other obligations, such as caring for their parents. But in so doing, these Jews were losing the power of God’s living Word by were ignoring God's clear commandment to honor their families (Mark 7:12; see also Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16; 1 Timothy 5:8) and to care for those in need (Leviticus 25:35-43). Jesus scolded the religious leaders for keeping their religious rituals and traditions in order to look holy but inside they were filled with greed and selfishness (Matthew 23:25; see also Mark 7:4; Luke 11:39). Jesus said “Corban” was just one example of many other man-made traditions that specifically contradicted and violated God’s living and powerful Word (Mark 7:13; see also Matthew 5:18; Luke 21:33; Hebrews 4:12).

Then Jesus called to the crowds and said, “Listen to what I say and try to understand: You are not made unholy by eating non-kosher food! It is what you say and think that makes you unclean.” Then the disciples came and told Him, “You offended the Pharisees by that remark.” Jesus replied, “Every plant not planted by My Father shall be rooted up, so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and both will fall into a ditch.” Then Peter asked Jesus to explain what He meant when He said that people are not defiled by non-kosher food. “Don’t you understand?” Jesus asked him. “Don’t you see that anything you eat passes through the digestive tract and out again? But evil words come from an evil heart and defile (pollute) the man who says them. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication (sexual immorality), theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile (pollute); but there is no spiritual defilement from eating without first going through the ritual of ceremonial hand washing!” Matthew 15:10-20 (TLB)

Then, Jesus called to the crowds to come together and taught the people with a parable (Mark 7:14). Jesus said, “Your souls are not harmed by what you eat, but by what you think and say!” (Mark 7:15, TLB). Sin is a matter of the heart where motivation and attitudes are formed. Evil actions are rooted in an evil heart. Afterwards, Jesus went into a house to get away from the crowds, and His disciples asked Him what He meant by the parable He had just made (Mark 7:17; see also Matthew 15:15). Jesus explained to His disciples that what we eat will not harm and defile our souls (Mark 7:18). Jesus declared boldly to the crowds that sin comes from the heart (Matthew 15:18). According to Jesus, food does not come in contact with our hearts, but only passes through our digestive system (Mark 7:19; see also Matthew 15:17). With this statement, Jesus showed that every kind of food is kosher (purified or clean) and declared null and void the entire Levitical system of “clean and unclean” (Mark 7:19; see also Acts 10:15; 1 Timothy 4:3-6).

“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. . . . For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” Matthew 12:33-37 (NLT)

Jesus goes on to say, “It is the thought-life that pollutes” (Mark 7:20, TLB). Jesus declared we are not made unholy by eating non-kosher food! Instead, Jesus explained that our evil thoughts and actions that come from the heart make one unclean and unholy before God (Matthew 15:18; see also Matthew 12:33-37). The word “heart” in the Holy Scriptures refers to our mental and moral center, not the organ that pumps blood through our veins. The Holy Scriptures reminds us to “guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course (issues) of your life” (Proverbs 4:23; see also Luke 6:45). From within and out of our human hearts, come evil thoughts of lust, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, envy (evil eye), slander (abusive language and evil speaking), pride, and all other foolishness (Mark 7:21-22; see also Romans 1:28-32). All these evil things come from within our hearts and makes one unholy and unfit before God (Mark 7:23). If we store up goods things in our hearts, our words and actions will be good. “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34; see also Mark 7:21).

Jesus: "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the Law — justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things." Matthew 23:23 (NLT)

During Jesus’ public ministry and even today, many people do many religious works, such as rituals and regulations, to try to please God. However, the Holy Scriptures has explained clearly what God desires. God has always wanted our wholehearted love, faithfulness, and obedience towards Him (Deuteronomy 6:4-6; see also Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27). In other words, God wants our total devotion to Him from our hearts and not our lip service (Matthew 6:33). In addition, God wants our unfailing love, mercy, truth, kindness, compassion, patience, forgiveness and faithfulness towards others (Luke 10:25-37; see also Leviticus 19:18; Micah 6:6-8; John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:19-21). These good fruit (works) reflect God’s very character and nature (Exodus 34:6-7; see also Galatians 5:22-23; Colossians 3:12-15). God is more concerned about hearts (Matthew 15:16-20). God sees our hearts – the way we are deep down (1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Matthew 21:27; 1 Corinthians 13:12).

Love – love for God and love for others – is the essences of God’s entire Law and the Prophets (Matthew 22:34-40; see also Mark 12:28-34; Luke 10:25-37; John 13:34-35; John 15:12; Romans 12:9-21; James 2:1-4, 14-17; 1 John 2:7-11; 1 John 4:721-11; see also Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:4-6). Starting with the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1 – 7:29), Jesus taught that true worship and holiness is not outward religious ritual, rules, and regulations but inward love for God and love for others as the Old Testament prophets previously stated (e.g., see 1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 51:17; Isaiah 1:10-20; Isaiah 66:3; Jeremiah 4:4; Jeremiah 6:20; Jeremiah 7:22-23; Jeremiah 22:3, 16; Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:21; Micah 6:6-8).

The Holy Scriptures have always demanded our genuine and wholehearted love, alliance, and devotion to God along with justice, mercy, and compassion towards others (e.g. see Matthew 22:34-40). In every period of history, true holiness has always been a matter of the heart with a right relationship with God by faith and loving-kindness towards others (e.g. see Leviticus 26:3; Deuteronomy 10:12-13; Deuteronomy 30:6, 20; Psalm 51:6, 10, 16-17). Truth, justice, mercy, kindness and faith not legalism forms the center of true spirituality (Micah 6:6-8; also Luke 11:42; Luke 18:9-14; James 1:26-27). God desires our genuine wholehearted love and devotion to Him and not just religious rituals to appear holy.

Jesus further explained to avoid evil and wicked actions, we must allow God’s Holy Spirit to penetrate our hearts with His truth – God’s Word (John 14:17; John 15:26; John 16:13). Through our faith in Jesus as God’s Son, God the Father and Jesus send the Holy Spirit to empower and strengthen believers to be good and obey God from within the heart (see John 14 – 16). The people of God are to be loving and merciful in all of their relationships to others. In this way, others will recognize the people of God (see e.g. John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:17-18).

If you claim to be religious but do not control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:26-27 (NLT)

References

Disciple's Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible, 1988).

Life Application Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005).

Life Essentials Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2011).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary – New Testament (Victor Books, 1989).