Mark 7:1-23

Find a way to separate yourself from whatever’s going on around you so you can fully enter into today’s passage. if you haven’t read the introduction to Mark’s Gospel, read it here.

Read Mark 7:1-23 and attempt to grasp the radical nature of Jesus’s words to the religious leaders.

Rituals and habits can be good when they help us remember important truths or when they help us consistently engage in life giving practices. But rituals are empty and meaningless when they become more important than their symbolic purpose.

Jesus is calling out such a situation in this passage. The ritual of hand rinsing before eating (an act that would do little to actually wash away actual grime) is of the utmost importance to the Pharisees (Jewish scribes and sages), and when some of Jesus’ disciples neglect the ritual, these religious leaders are outraged.

Jesus doesn’t mince words. He calls the Pharisees out for their hypocrisy using the very Scriptures they claim to follow to give them a concrete example of their misguided attachment to empty rituals.

Read Mark 7:1-23 again paying careful attention to Jesus’ explanation to his disciples.

Are there any practices or habits that you are unconsciously or consciously counting on to make you acceptable to God?

Jesus, through his death in our place and his resurrection to new life, has made you acceptable to God before you do anything. How do you react to this idea?

It is possible to attend worship services, read and study our Bibles, and even pray but not be awake to the life-transforming presence of Jesus. Take a moment to examine your spiritual rituals. Speak to Jesus about these and ask him to point out any way you have made the ritual more important than your relationship with him.

Realizing that as a follower of Jesus you are completely acceptable to God before you do anything, confess whatever came to mind and thank Jesus for the unimaginable grace he has showered on you.

Now make a plan with Jesus to refocus your spiritual habits on him so your heart will overflow with his love for others. It’s not the condition of our hands but the condition of our hearts that matters.

If these meditations are helpful to you, please forward them to couple of friends.

Interested in going deeper? Check out The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide and blog.