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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mar_7:1-8
1The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, 2and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed. 3(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders; 4and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper pots.) 5The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?" 6And He said to them, "Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
'This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far away from Me.
7'But in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'
8Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men."
Mar_7:1 "Pharisees" These were the most sincere religionists of their day. Culturally they were the best of the best. Jesus' conversations with them are recorded often (cf. Mar_7:5-8; Mar_11:27-33; Mar_12:13-17). See fuller note at Mar_2:6.
▣ "some of the scribes. . .had come from Jerusalem" The religious leaders were always following Him to find fault (cf. Mar_3:22; Joh_1:19). They apparently were an official fact-finding committee from the Sanhedrin (see Special Topic at Mar_12:13) of Jerusalem. The Sanhedrin was made up of 70 persons from
1. ruling priestly families (i.e., Sadducees, see Special Topic at Mar_12:18)
2. local religious leaders (i.e., Pharisees)
3. local wealthy land owners
Mar_7:2 "impure hands, that is, unwashed" This was not hygienic, but religious (cf. Mar_7:4). Ceremonial purity was a very serious matter to them (cf. Luk_11:38; Mat_15:2). It was spelled out in specific terms in the Talmud. The controversy was over the Oral Traditions, which interpreted OT texts.
▣ "impure" This is the Greek term koinos, which means "common" or "available to all." It is the name moderns give to the common Greek of Jesus' day. The Latin term "vulgate" has the same connotation (i.e., available to all). In this context it refers to that which is ceremonially unclean because of its contact with other unclean things.
Mar_7:3
NASB "unless they carefully wash their hands"
NKJV "unless they wash their hands in a special way"
NRSV "unless they thoroughly wash their hands"
TEV "unless they wash their hands in the proper way"
NJB "without washing their arms as far as the elbow"
There is a Greek manuscript variation in this phrase. The most unusual reading is pugmç, which means "fist," found in the ancient uncial manuscripts A, B, and L, while pukna, meaning "frequently," is found in à , W, and the Vulgate and Peshitta. Some ancient texts just omit the parenthesis of Mar_7:3-4 (i.e., ninth century manuscript 037, known by the Greek capital letter delta, and some Coptic and Syriac translations and the Diatessaron). The UBS4 gives option #1 ans "A" rating (certain).
It is possible that this difficult Greek term reflects a Greek translation of an Aramaic phrase "unless they wash their hands in a (special) jug" (cf. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, edited by Gerhard Friedrich and Geoffrey W. Broomiley, vol. 6, p. 916). The Pharisees took the OT requirement for priests on duty in the Temple and expanded them to all "true" Jews every day. They were adding to the Law of Moses.
Another option would be to take it as a rabbinical method of washing one's hands and arms with a closed fist, but this is not substantiated by any written rabbinical tradition, unless it refers to the concept of catching the water poured over the elbows (with the hands down) with an open cupped hand so that it could be rubbed on the elbow again.
The term "wash" (niptô, cf. Mat_15:2) was usually used to refer to washing part of the body and not to a complete bath (i.e., louô, cf. Joh_13:10).
▣ "observing the traditions of the elders" These traditions (cf. Gal_1:14) were codified in the Talmud (i.e., Mishna). There are two editions of these rabbinical traditions. The more complete one is from Babylon Talmud and the unfinished one is from Palestine. The modern study of this literature has been hampered because no one is sure when these discussions were originally spoken or recorded. Two later rabbinical schools of interpretation developed, one conservative (i.e., Shammai) and one liberal (i.e., Hillel). All issues are debated based on these rabbinical discussions. The rabbis would quote their predecessors as authoritative.
Mar_7:4 "unless they cleanse themselves" The Jews expanded the laws relating to the priest entering the tabernacle to include all Jews (cf. Exo_30:19). These regulations relate to ceremonial cleanliness. They had developed over a long period of time by inference and extrapolation from Levitical rules.
There is a Greek manuscript variant in this phrase. Some Greek texts have:
1. aorist middle subjunctive of baptizô (i.e., MSS A, D, W as well as the Vulgate and Syriac translations)
2. present passive indicative of baptizô (i.e., MSS F, L)
3. aorist middle subjunctive of rantizô "to sprinkle" (i.e., MSS à , B and the Coptic translation). Most modern translations go with option #1. Early scribes may have inserted #3 because baptizô had become a technical term for Christian baptism.
The UBS4 gives #1 a "B" rating (almost certain).
NASB "and copper pots"
NKJV "copper vessels and couches"
NRSV "bronze kettles"
TEV "copper bowls and beds"
NJB "bronze dishes"
This term "pots" is a Latin term. Mark uses more Latin words than any other NT book. This may reflect its being written in Rome for Romans.
There is a Greek textual variant which adds klinôn (i.e., beds or couches) in manuscripts A, D, and W, while P45, à , B, and L omit it. Possibly scribes, knowing Leviticus 15, added the phrase, or later scribes, unfamiliar with the OT text, thought it out of place and deleted it. Speculation is interesting, but theologically insignificant.
Mar_7:5 "asked Him" This is an imperfect tense which implies that they asked Him over and over again or else began to ask Him.
▣ "not walk according to the tradition of the elders" This was a serious religious matter for them. There is even a recorded incident in Jewish literature of a rabbi being excommunicated for failure to properly wash his hands. The Talmud, which recorded their rabbinical discussions on how to understand and implement OT texts, had become "the authority."
Mar_7:6 "'Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you'" Jesus believed that historically particular OT texts from Isaiah's day related to this generation of Pharisees seven hundred years later. This shows the relevance of the Scripture to each new generation. God's truths are affected by culture, but they also transcend time and culture! Jesus quotes Isa_29:13.
▣ "hypocrites" This is a compound from two words "under" and "to judge." It was a term used to describe actors playing a part behind a mask. Jesus accuses them of over zealousness on some issues, but total depreciation of others (cf. Isa_29:13; Col_2:16-23). It is not by accident that "hypocrites" and hand washing appear together in Psa_26:4; Psa_26:6!
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▣ "as it is written" This is perfect tense meaning "it stands written." This was a standard Jewish idiom for referring to inspired Scripture (cf. Mar_9:12-13; Mar_11:17; Mat_4:4; Mat_4:7; Mat_4:10). The quote is from the Septuagint of Isa_29:13, which describes human self-righteousness. Jesus gives an example of this in Mar_7:9-19 and in the parallel of Mat_15:4-6.
▣ "'heart'" For the Jews this was the center of mental activity, therefore, the basis of action. They used religious ritual as a means of gaining acceptance with God. Their traditions had become ultimate! This is always a danger with religious people. See Special Topic at Mar_2:6.
▣ "'is far away'" This means "to hold at a distance." Religious practices are often used to circumvent total dedication to God. Often religion is a barrier, not a bridge, to God.
Mar_7:7 What a devastating condemnation of religious hypocrisy and formalism.
Mar_7:8 "neglecting" This means "to send away" (i.e., God's commandment) and is in direct contrast to "hold," which means "to grab," "to grasp," or "to cling to" the traditions.
▣ "the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men" The issue is revelation (OT) versus tradition (Talmud). This is an issue for every person in every culture (or denomination). Religious authority is a crucial issue!