Except They Wash - Mark 7:4

Mark wrote, “then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashed, hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders”, and in chapter seven and verse four of his book, Mark wrote when the Pharisees and scribes, “come from the market, except they wash, they eat not” where we read:

And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables.

The verse reads, “And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not.” Mark began with the words, “and when they come from” which means “and at the time and moment the Pharisees and all the Jews out of and separate from” “the market” which means “the place of assembly for buying and selling”, “except they wash” which means “in case the Pharisees and all the Jews ceremonially dip repeatedly, immerse, submerge and make clean to an overwhelming degree”, “they eat not” which means “the Pharisees and all the Jews do not consume or devour food”. Mark shared how the “tradition” of the “religious leaders” and the “Jews” was to “ceremonially wash” after they came from the “market” place.

The verse continues, “And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables.” Mark added the words, “and many other things there be” which means “and a lot or large amount of different practices”, “which they” or “that the Pharisees and all Jews” “have received to hold” which means “associated with, accepted and acknowledged to own, possess and seized”, “as the washing” or “as the ceremonially cleansing” “of cups” which refers to “pertaining to drinking vessels”, “and pots” or “and sextarius which are vessels for measuring liquids holding about a pint or one half a liter or a wooden pitcher or ewer from which water or wine is poured”, “brazen vessels” which refers to “copper dishes”, “and of tables” or “and pertaining to small beds and couches on which a sick man is carried”. Mark shared how the “Pharisees and Jews” had many other traditions pertaining to ceremonial “cleansing” for their “drinking, eating, pouring and reclining seats”.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how the “religious leaders” and “Jews” had all sorts of “traditional rules” for “cleansing” anything that pertain to their “eating and drinking”. Although sanitary conditions are important, these were “ceremonial washings” that needed to be performed according to their man-made instructions. God's desire is for people to understand His law was given to show their “sinfulness”, and those who “sin” will receive the penalty of “death”. (See Romans 3:23 and 6:23) God sent His Son Jesus to “die” for the sins of the whole world, and all the rules and regulations which are according to “man-made” laws have nothing to do with this. God wants people to relate to Him, and when they yield their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” He becomes their Heavenly Father who promises to give them “everlasting life”. Let all who read these words know, understand and believe.

Next time Mark shares how the Pharisees ask Jesus, “Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”, 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".