The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus when they saw some of his disciples eating food with "unclean" hands, that is, hands that have not be properly washed. (The Pharisees and all Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace they do not eat until they have washed. They observe many other traditions like this, like washing cups, pitchers and kettles). So that was why the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why aren't your disciples living by the tradition of the elders and instead eat their food with `unclean' hands?" He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: 'These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' You let go the commands of God so you can hold the traditions of men."
In a Nutshell
Jesus told the religious leaders that they were missing the point that their concern for cleanliness missed the point. They were more worried about memorising God's law than remembering that He wants us to enjoy Him in the life He gives us.
Questions
Try and memorise your favourite story from Mark. Get your brother or sister to do the same with theirs. And then think and talk about what you forget in your favourite story.
Jesus confronted the religious leaders who thought they were going to teach Him a thing or two about cleanliness. They saw themselves as experts. They knew the rules:
Ø
all the washing rules
for cups, saucers, knives, forks … and toilets;
Ø
how to make everything
spic and span;
Ø how to prepare food and make sure everything is cooked right;
Ø how to wash hands; how to wash your body and in what order; how to dry your soap; how to wash your clothes; how to hang them out to dry; how to use your clothes-line … on and on it goes.
They knew all the rules for cleaning and eating. It was all part of one life-long task - finish one meal and there were all the dishes - all those pots and pans and plates and knives and forks and spoons and cups… . And since God is with us all the time, doesn't He want us to obey His rules in everything? Don't the bells on the horses have to proclaim the message: Holy unto the Lord God! Shine those bells! Get out the steel wool!
But was this the way to happiness? Is this what God wants us to be concerned about above all else? Is following Him in everything about making sure we are clean all the time? Is that how we please Him?
Some of Jesus' disciples were not washing their hands like the Pharisees did. They were eating without scrubbing. They did not use as much soap as the Pharisees did. So the Pharisees thought they might be able to trap Jesus on this, pull Him down a peg or two, put Him straight and tell Him what's what!
Excuse us but surely you know your disciples aren't eating properly! So, aren't our traditions good enough, eh? You and your disciples are on display to the crowds, they are models, so you should be keeping higher standards! If you were the crash hot teacher many say you are then you'd be making sure your students obey these cleanliness rules.
They were trying to make Jesus look bad. They would not be students in His school! He would not be teaching them. They said He had to clean up His act! And if He didn't? Then, they would be against Him all the way.
Mark tells us that Jesus was always ready to answer those who challenged Him. He was not tricked. We would say He was equal to the challenge. He turned on them and threw their pathetic charge about cleanliness back in their faces: You bunch of hypocrites! You aren't obeying God's commandments at all. You are more concerned with appearances and measuring yourself according to your own rules … This is what God's Word says about you: "their fear of me is nothing but a string of rules made up and committed to memory to convince themselves they are right! It's as if these leaders kept God's laws like they were the 16 times table.
Once 16 is
sixteen, two 16s are thirty-two, three 16s are forty-eight … five 16s are
eighty …. sixteen 16s are two hundred and fifty six.
Yes, God wants us to remember His commands, His promises, His law, His rules. He wants us to learn cleanliness and He's also happy if we commit His rules to memory. But we commit them to memory by living them. Living by God's word is what happiness is all about.
These religious leaders, Jesus said, had missed the meaning of God's law. They thought that they were on God's side because they could recite what God wanted. But Jesus said they missed it totally. They didn't know God at all. In fact, by memorizing God's laws, and trying to make everyone else do the same thing, they showed that they didn't know God's love.
This was serious. Following the law of God is indeed the way to happiness. God wants us to be happy; to enjoy our life; to enjoy our food; yes, to enjoy our daily bath and the way we wash ourselves and even to enjoy memorising things like the 16 times table. But the law of God is the important thing. By it God refreshes us. It is all about power and happiness, not just talk. It means life to the full. The priests and the Pharisees turned God's way into slavery. They turned the truth into a lie.