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. 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. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not your disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”, and in chapter seven and verse six of his book, Mark wrote how the Pharisees and the scribes, “honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” where we read:
He answered and said unto them, Well has Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written,
This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
The verse reads, “He answered and said unto them, Well has Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, ...” Mark began with the words, “He answered” which means “Jesus responded and began to speak” “and said” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed” “unto them” which means “to the Pharisees and scribes”, “well has Isaiah” or “beautifully, excellently, nobly, commendably and honorably Isaiah whose name means Jehovah's help and was a famous Hebrew prophet who prophesied in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah” “prophesied” which means “spoke for the by divine inspirations and predicted” “of you hypocrites” or “pertaining to you stage actors, dissemblers and pretenders”, “as it is written” which means “in the manner the words of Isaiah are delineated or formed as letters on a tablet, parchment, paper or other material”. Mark shared how Jesus referred to the prophetic words of “Isaiah” as He told the “Pharisees and scribes” they were “pretenders and stage actors”.
The verse goes on to say, “... This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” Mark continued with the words, “this people honor me” which means “these tribes, nations, great part of the population gathered together anywhere and all those who are of the same stock and language value, revere and venerate God” “with their lips” or “with the lips in their face which refers to their speech”, “but their heart” which means “however, nevertheless, moreover and the people's soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors” “is far from me” or “is distant and a great way off from God”. Mark shared how Jesus used Isaiah's words to describe the “Pharisees and scribes” because they “spoke” in a manner that made people think they were “close” to God, however their “inward beings” were very distant from Him.
When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus revealed the true nature of these “religious leaders”. Though outwardly they confessed to know God, inwardly, or in their “hearts”, they were very distant from Him. Jesus will reveal more about this in the next verse, however for now let us examine our own conduct both outwardly and inwardly toward God. Are we the same “inside” as we are “out”? God knows our “hearts”, and though we may appear to be one way to others, “inside” we may be totally different. Let all those who examine their lives yield themselves to God who knows their “heart” and is able to align it according to His ways and pleasure.
Next time Mark shares how Jesus tells the Pharisees and scribes, “you hold the tradition of men”, 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".
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