Now when the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, 2 they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. 3 (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. 4 And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles [and beds].) 5 So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” 6 He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; 7 In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.’ 8 You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” 9 He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother shall die.’ 11 Yet you say, ‘If a person says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is "qorban”’ (meaning, dedicated to God), 12 you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. 13 You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.” 14 He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. 15 Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.”
Jesus confronts the Pharisees and scribes who criticize his disciples for not following the ritual tradition of washing their hands before eating. This passage reveals Jesus' teaching on true purity, emphasizing that what defiles a person comes from the heart rather than external rituals. Jesus emphasizes the importance of internal righteousness over external ritual observance, challenging the religious leaders' focus on tradition and legalism.
The Pharisees, who were strict observers of Jewish law, along with some scribes came to observe Jesus to catch him violating the Mosaic Law in a way that is punishable by death such as breaking the Sabbath (Ex. 31:14-15) or blasphemy (Lv. 24:16). Their arrival from Jerusalem indicated that it was an official trip. They observed the disciples not following the tradition of ritual handwashing before eating meals and confronted Jesus about it because they held Jesus responsible for the actions of his disciples. The issue was not hygiene but that the disciples failed to follow the traditional Jewish practices of ritual purification. The clarification in verses three and four was for the benefit of Mark’s non-Jewish audience. The Mosaic Law originally defined the moral purity expected of people when they approached God (Ex. 30:17; Lev. 11; Deut. 14). The Pharisees meticulously observed various ceremonial washings, not only for hands but also for utensils and even themselves after visiting crowded public places like the marketplace. The Jews had so many rules that the original intent of the Law was almost obscured. Some of the rules appeared to be pious but allowed for the avoidance of religious obligations.
"Tradition of the elders" refers to the oral traditions handed down and observed with the written Mosaic law. After the 70-year Babylonian Exile (c. 608 B.C. - c. 538 B.C.), the Rabbis, as custodians of Jewish tradition, expanded upon the Mosaic Law, developing numerous interpretive traditions to clarify its application in daily life. These traditions, known as the Oral Law or Oral Torah, provided detailed guidance on various aspects of religious observance and were considered by the Jewish community to be just as binding as the written Law itself.
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and scribes by quoting Isaiah 29:13 and accused them of hypocrisy, of paying lip service to God and substituting human traditions as divine commandments. They prioritized their traditions over God’s Commandments. In his critique of the Pharisees and scribes, Jesus invoked the authority of Moses and the Commandment, “'Honor your father and your mother (Ex. 20:12).” They nullified God’s Commandment by following a rabbinic tradition which allowed them to declare their possessions “qorban” (dedicated to God) thereby relieving themselves of the obligation under the Mosaic Law to support their parents when they are in need (Dt. 5:16; Lv. 20:9). They neglect their responsibility to family under the guise of religious devotion. Jesus addressed the crowd and urged them to listen and understand what he had said. He told the Pharisees that external factors such as food cannot defile a person. It is one's internal disposition, what is in one’s heart, that determines purity or defilement. Jesus positions himself as the authoritative interpreter of the Mosaic Law.
Almighty God, help us to see beyond outward appearances and rituals, and to understand what is truly pure and righteous. Teach us to love you above all things and to honor you with our hearts as shown by our actions. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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