Mark Chapter 7

At a Glance

  • Mark 7 moves the action from public miracles into a sharp confrontation about heart and tradition.
  • With the crowd gathered, Jesus pivots to a penetrating teaching on defilement.
  • Historical & Literary Context.
  • Mark 7 sits within the Markan narrative of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee transitioning toward Jerusalem.
  • - Heart over ritual: True defilement comes from within; outward cleanliness cannot substitute for inward faithfulness.

Chapter Overview

Mark 7 moves the action from public miracles into a sharp confrontation about heart and tradition. The chapter begins with a Pharisaic delegation from Jerusalem pressing Jesus on ritual purity. The scribes critique Jesus’ disciples for not washing hands according to the elders’ tradition, highlighting a recurring tension: finely drawn human rules vs. the deeper commandment of God. Jesus responds by naming a core spiritual problem: outward ritual without inward allegiance. He quotes Isaiah to indict religious hypocrisy—worship that professes devotion with lips while the heart remains far away. The critique escalates as Jesus points to the problem of elevating human traditions to the level of divine commands, thereby “making the word of God of none effect.” The confrontation then centers on how people honor father and mother. The religious leaders have redefined Corban (a vow dedicated to God) to evade obligations to kin, thus corrupting the law’s intent. Jesus presses home the charge: tradition has been used to justify neglect of God’s commands and familial duty.

With the crowd gathered, Jesus pivots to a penetrating teaching on defilement. He declares that nothing from outside a person can defile them; it is what comes from inside—the deceptive thoughts, evil desires, and moral actions—that truly defiles. The disciples, confused by the depth of Jesus’ critique, even ask about the meaning of “defilement.” Jesus teaches that defilement is not about ceremonial pollutants but about the condition of the heart that produces words, deeds, and choices. The chapter thus weaves together critique of legalism, a stern call to heart-centered faith, and an invitation to reorient life around God’s true commandments rather than human traditions. In short, Mark 7 challenges readers to examine what governs their religious life: lip service and rule-keeping, or a transformed heart aligned with God’s will.

Historical & Literary Context

Mark 7 sits within the Markan narrative of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee transitioning toward Jerusalem. Likely composed in the late 60s CE, it reflects an early Christian community wrestling with how Jesus’ teaching relates to Jewish law and purity codes. The chapter’s conflict with the Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem underscores a growing rift between Jesus’ reinterpretation of purity and the authorities who uphold traditional ritual standards. The genre is brisk narrative with authoritative Jesus’ teaching embedded in confrontation, followed by a public demonstration of his teaching in action. The use of quotes from Isaiah and Moses grounds Jesus’ critique in Scripture, signaling the early Christian move to interpret Hebrew Scripture through the lens of Jesus’ authority and mission. Mark emphasizes immediacy and movement, and here the pace quickens as the religious leaders’ critique triggers a pointed, accessible teaching about the heart and defilement.

Key Themes

- Heart over ritual: True defilement comes from within; outward cleanliness cannot substitute for inward faithfulness.

- Recalibrating authority: Jesus challenges human traditions that override God’s commands, calling readers to allegiance to God over human rules.

- Integrity vs. hypocrisy: Isaiah’s indictment of worship that honors with lips but not the heart warns against public religiosity lacking genuine devotion.

- The purpose of the law: The commandments are meant to love and honor God and others; when tradition distorts that aim, it becomes a weight rather than a guide.

- Family and fidelity: Jesus foregrounds the moral economy of honoring father and mother, contrasting it with Corban’s misuse, highlighting how religious practice should protect vulnerable family relationships.

Modern Application

This chapter invites contemporary readers to examine what drives their religious life. Are rituals and traditions the framework by which we measure faith, or is our heart oriented toward love God and neighbor? The critique of using pious-sounding vows to evade family duty speaks to modern trends of legalism in religious communities—where rules become a substitute for mercy, generosity, or accountability. Christians are urged to evaluate whether their worship and beliefs flow from a transformed heart that actually seeks the welfare of others, especially the vulnerable. The critique of “defilement-by-surface” has present resonance in moral formation: individuals and churches must cultivate inner integrity, not merely outward conformity. The passage also challenges communities to re-center on God’s commandments that protect family and honor parental figures, recognizing the social and ethical weight of care for elders and dependence on intergenerational bonds. Practically, this could translate into humility in leadership, a renewed emphasis on pastoral care, and a reform of rituals that enable genuine, compassionate obedience rather than become a barrier to authenticity.

Cross-References (3-5 related chapters or passages)

- Mark 7:1-23 (this chapter itself)

- Isaiah 29:13; Isaiah 1:11-17 (prophetic critique of hollow worship)

- Mark 2:23-28 (on the sabbath and human need vs. ritual)

- Matthew 15:1-20 (parallel account with similar teaching)

- Romans 14 (principles about conscience and matters of tradition)

Recommended Personas (Biblical personas for unique insight)

- Jesus (for direct interpretive clarity and pastoral insight)

- Paul (to contrast early Christian interpretation of law and tradition)

- Moses (to engage with law, commandments, and family ethics)

- Isaiah (to illuminate prophetic critique of hollow worship)

Chapter Text

1

Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.

2

And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

3

For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

4

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, brasen vessels, and of tables.

5

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

6

He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

7

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

8

For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

9

And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

10

For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

11

But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

12

And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

13

Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

14

And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:

15

There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

16

If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

17

And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.

18

And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

19

Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

20

And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

21

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

22

Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

23

All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

24

And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.

25

For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:

26

The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.

27

But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.

28

And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.

29

And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.

30

And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

31

And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.

32

And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.

33

And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;

34

And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

35

And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

36

And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;

37

And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

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