Pastor Lowell Nelson teaches about Mark 7:1-13 "Traditions Over Truth" on 12/7/2025 for our Sunday service.
Mark 7:1-13
11 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. 2 Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.
5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?"
6 He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men — the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do."
9 He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' 11 But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban" — ' (that is, a gift to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do."
Jesus reveals His authority as the word become flesh and the biblical principle that scripture is the final authority of all practices, teachings and rules of thought.
Jesus teaches on the dangers of elevating traditions over scripture. The Pharisees and scribes come from Jerusalem to see what is going on with this Jesus. They confront Jesus because His disciples are not schooled in practicing the traditions of the elders. Specifically, the ceremonial washings.
Jesus exposes the biblical principle of the authority of scripture alone. Jesus is warning them not to equate traditions to the level of Divine authority. They were allowing rules and traditions of men to overshadow and even negate the clear revelation of the word of God.
Jesus teaches that true defilement is in the heart. The internal, not the external.
