Eating with Unwashed Hands - Mark 7:2

Mark wrote, “then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem”, and in chapter seven and verse two of his book, Mark shared how the Pharisees and some of the scribes, “saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled … with unwashed hands” where we read:

And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say,

with unwashed, hands, they found fault.

The verse reads, “And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, ...” Mark began with the words, “and when they saw” which means “and at the time and moment the Pharisees and some scribes observed, noticed, discerned and discovered” “some of his disciples” which means “certain ones of Jesus' students, pupils and attendants” “eat bread” which means “consuming and devouring food composed of flour mixed with water and baked” “with defiled” which means “containing unclean and unhallowed hands”. Mark shared how the “religious leaders” observed certain of Jesus' “disciples” eating “bread” in an “unclean and unhallowed” manner.

The verse goes on to say, “... with unwashed, hands, they found fault.” Mark continued with the words, “with unwashed hands” which means “along with physical hands without ablution or ceremonial washing”, “they found fault” or “the Pharisees and some scribes found blame and wrong”. Mark shared how the “religious leaders” observed how Jesus' disciples did not “wash” their hands according to their “traditional ceremonial washing” and blamed them for it.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see how the “Pharisees and scribes” were very attentive to the way Jesus' disciples ate their food. Because the “religious leaders” developed a particular way to wash their hands with up and down movements while water was poured upon them so as to allow the dirt and “sin” to drip away, they were incensed when Jesus' disciples did not observe their “tradition”. God has His law, and men have added their “traditions” to it, and these “religious leaders” were no different. God desires for people to come to Him through a “faith and trust” relationship with His Son Jesus, and when they do, man made “traditions” may be set aside so they can simply relate to Him forever.

Next time Mark shares how the Pharisees, “the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders” again, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".