Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 (NRSV)
Read Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 7Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, Verse 2they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. Verse 3(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; Verse 4and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) Verse 5So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?" Verse 6He said to them, "Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,
Verse 14Then he called the crowd again and said to them, "Listen to me, all of you, and understand: Verse 15there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile." Verse 21For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, Verse 22adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. Verse 23All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."
Devotion
Ancient Israel clearly defined itself by who was “in” and who was “out.” (See David Rhoads, Reading Mark, Chapter 6, “Crossing Boundaries.”)
The religious leaders guarded the social boundaries to keep what was holy – that is, the Jews, the “insiders” – separate from that which defiled – that is, the Gentiles, the “outsiders.” To this end, they practiced rituals such as hand-washing.
The Pharisees were understandably threatened by Jesus when he refused to require his disciples to wash their hands. For them, this was not an issue of proper sanitation but rather one of boundaries. Jesus was redrawing the boundaries to include, rather than to exclude. The Pharisees could no longer control who was “in” and who was “out,” because Jesus seemed to be letting everyone “in.”
Who is “out” whom God calls you to invite “in”?
Prayer
Embracing God, we confess our desire to keep others “out” so that we may be kept “in.” Remind us that you include all your creation “in” your reign so that none need be left “out.” Amen.