Mark 7:1-2

MARK CHAPTER 7.

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Concerning Ceremonial Washings. Mark 7, 1-13.

The Pharisees find fault: V. 1. Then came together unto Him the Pharisees and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. V. 2. And when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

An instance of typical pharisaic pedantry, of deliberate, unwarranted faultfinding. Jesus had returned to Capernaum for a few days after the exciting and wearying experiences of a strenuous week. Here He finds a company of His enemies assembled; the contrast between the Lord's popularity during the last few days and the hostility of the Jewish religious leaders is brought out very strongly.

It may be. that this delegation of Pharisees and scribes was the same one that was dogging Christ's footsteps since the casting out of devils, chapter 3, 22; or the authorities may have sent down even more learned and disputatious men than at first, as they were learning to respect the clear arguments and the sharp tongue of the Galilean Rabbi.

The purpose of their coming was frankly not to hear the Word of Life, but to provoke disputes. Their opportunity came very soon. They saw some of Christ's disciples eat with common, with unwashed hands. This was their cue for an attack upon Jesus.

Note: Not the question of sanitation caused them concern, but one which they considered affecting the standing of a believing Jew in the sight of God.