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Question

Mark 7 talks about eating -- what is the context? Some versions say Jesus declared all foods clean, others don't. Which is correct? What is the context, and what does the passage mean?

Topics

PHARISEES

  • A sect of the Jews (ACT 15:5)
  • Doctrines of (MAT 15:9)
  • Concerning the resurrection (ACT 23:6,8)
  • Association with publicans and sinners (MAT 9:11-13)
  • Traditions of, in regard to:
  • Fasting (MAT 9:14; LUK 18:12)
  • The washing of hands (MAT 15:1-3; MRK 7:1-15)
  • The duties of children to parents (MAT 15:4-9)
  • The Sabbath (MAT 12:2-8)
  • Hypocrisy of, reproved:
  • By John (MAT 3:7-10)
  • By Jesus (MAT 6:2-8,16-18; 15:1-9; 16:1-12; 21:33-46; 23:2-33; LUK 11:14-54; 12:1; 15:1-9)
  • Reject John (LUK 7:30), Christ (MAT 12:38,39; 15:12; JHN 7:48)
  • Come to Jesus with questions (MAT 19:3; 22:15-22)
  • Minister to Jesus (LUK 7:36; 11:37; 14:1)
  • Become disciples of Jesus (JHN 3:1; ACT 15:5; 22:3)
  • Paul, a Pharisee (ACT 23:6; 26:5)

Key finding: Nave's classifies the Mark 7/Matthew 15 passage under "Traditions of [Pharisees], in regard to the washing of hands" -- not under dietary law or food law.

DEFILEMENT

  • Laws relating to (LEV 7:18-21; 11:43; 22:2-7)
  • Caused by:
  • Leprosy (LEV 13:3,44-46; 14; 22:4-7)
  • Gonorrhea (LEV 15:1-15; 22:4)
  • Copulation (LEV 15:17)
  • Spermatorrhea (LEV 15:16,17)
  • Childbirth (LEV 12:2-8; LUK 2:22)
  • Menses (LEV 15:19-33; 2SA 11:4)
  • Touching the dead (NUM 19:11-22; 31:19,20)
  • Touching the carcass of any ceremonially unclean animal (LEV 11:39,40; 17:15,16; 22:8)
  • Touching carcass of an unclean thing (LEV 5:2-13; 11:8,24-28,31-38; 14:46-57; 15:5-11; DEU 23:10,11)
  • Killing in battle (NUM 31:19,20)
  • Contact with sinners falsely supposed to cause (JHN 18:28)
  • Of priests (LEV 16:26,28; NUM 19:7-10; EZK 44:25,26)
  • Egyptian usage, concerning (GEN 43:32)
  • See ABLUTION, PURIFICATION, UNCLEANNESS

Key finding: The topic includes "Contact with sinners falsely supposed to cause" defilement (JHN 18:28) -- this is the same type of false defilement concept as the Pharisees' handwashing tradition.

TRADITION

  • The decisions and minor precepts taught by Paul (1CO 11:2; 2TH 2:15; 3:6)
  • Commandments of men (MAT 12:1-8; 15:2-6; MRK 7:3-9; LUK 6:1-11; COL 2:8; 1PE 1:18)
  • Not authoritative (MAT 15:3-20; 1TI 1:4; 4:7)

Key finding: Nave's explicitly classifies Mark 7:3-9 and Matthew 15:2-6 under "Commandments of men" and labels such traditions "Not authoritative."

COMMANDMENTS

  • General scriptures concerning (EXO 13:8-10; 20:3-17; DEU 4:5,9,10; etc.)
  • Precepts of Jesus explicitly stated (MAT 5:16,22-24; etc.)
  • Precepts of Paul (ROM 12:1-3; 1CO 8:1,7-13; 10:7-10,24,28,29,31,32; COL 2:6,16,20-23; etc.)
  • Of Men (ISA 29:13; MAT 15:3-20; MRK 7:2-23; ROM 14:1-6,10-23; 1TI 4:1-3)

Key finding: Mark 7:2-23 and Matthew 15:3-20 are categorized under "Commandments OF MEN" -- that is, human traditions, not divine dietary laws. ISA 29:13 is the OT root (quoted by Jesus in Mark 7:6-7).

PURIFICATION

  • (Sanitary and symbolical)
  • For women: Before marriage (EST 2:12), After childbirth (LEV 12:6-8; LUK 2:22), After menstruation (LEV 15:19-33; 2SA 11:4)
  • Of the Jews before the Passover celebration (JHN 11:55)
  • For those who had recently killed someone in battle (NUM 31:19-24)
  • By fire, for things that resist fire (NUM 31:23)
  • By blood (EXO 24:5-8; LEV 14:6,7; HEB 9:12-14,19-22)
  • By abstaining from sexual intercourse (EXO 19:15)
  • Washing parts of animal sacrifices in water (LEV 1:9,13; 9:14; 2CH 4:6)
  • Penalty for non-observance (LEV 7:20,21; NUM 19:13,20)
  • Water of purification (NUM 19:17-21; 31:23)
  • Washing hands in water, symbolical of innocency (DEU 21:6; PSA 26:6; MAT 27:24)
  • Traditions of the elders concerning (MAT 15:2; MRK 7:2-5,8,9; LUK 11:38)
  • Of Paul, to show his fidelity to the law (ACT 21:24,26)
  • Figurative (PSA 26:6; 51:7; EZK 36:25; HEB 10:22)
  • Scriptures relating to (GEN 35:2; EXO 19:10,14; LEV 8:6; etc.; MAT 15:2; MRK 7:2-9; HEB 9:10)

Key finding: Handwashing is classified under "Traditions of the elders concerning" purification -- separate from the actual Mosaic purification laws.

UNCLEANNESS

  • (Ceremonially speaking) LEV 5:2,3; 7:20,21; 17:15; 21:1-15; 22:2-8
  • See ABLUTIONS, DEFILEMENT, PURIFICATION, SANITATION

CLEAN AND UNCLEAN ANIMALS

  • See ANIMALS, BIRDS, FISH, INSECTS (Cross-references to the broader animal categories in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14)

WASHING

  • Of hands, a token of innocence (DEU 21:6; PSA 26:6; 73:13; MAT 27:24)
  • See ABLUTION, PURIFICATION
  • Figurative of regeneration (PSA 51:7; PRO 30:12; ISA 1:16; 4:4; ZEC 13:1; 1CO 6:11; EPH 5:26; TIT 3:5)

HOLINESS

  • General scriptures concerning (GEN 17:1; EXO 19:6; LEV 10:8-10; 11:44,45,47; 19:2; 20:7,26; DEU 14:2; etc.)
  • Extensive NT references to holy living (ROM 6:1-23; 1PE 1:14-16; etc.)

Key finding: LEV 11:44,45 ("ye shall be holy; for I am holy") and DEU 14:2 ("thou art an holy people unto the LORD") are the stated basis for dietary laws. The food laws are grounded in holiness theology, not in ceremony.

PURITY

  • Of heart (PSA 12:6; 19:8; 24:3-5; 51:7; MAT 5:8; TIT 1:15; HEB 9:13,14; JAS 4:8; 1PE 1:22; 1JN 3:3)

EATING

  • The host acting as waiter (GEN 18:8)
  • Favored guests served a double portion (GEN 43:34)
  • Sitting at table (EXO 32:6)
  • Reclining on couches (AMO 6:4,7; LUK 7:37,38; JHN 13:25)
  • Ablutions before (MAT 15:2)
  • See FEASTS, FOOD, GLUTTONY

Key finding: The "ablutions before" eating entry points to MAT 15:2, confirming the Mark 7/Matt 15 passage is about pre-meal handwashing traditions.

SANITATION (FOOD section)

  • FOOD: LEV 3:17; 7:15-19,23-27; 11:2-23,26,27,29-43,46,47; 17:10-15; 19:5-8,26; 22:8; DEU 12:16,20-25; 14:3-21,26; 15:22,23

Key finding: The Mosaic food laws are extensive and detailed, covering which animals may be eaten. These are listed under SANITATION, not under TRADITION -- they are laws of God, not traditions of men.

HYPOCRISY

The HYPOCRISY topic lists MAT 15:7-9 and MRK 7:6-8 -- Jesus calls the Pharisees "hypocrites" in the Mark 7 passage, connecting their tradition-keeping to the Isaiah 29:13 prophecy about lip-service worship.

MRK 7:21-23 is listed as a key verse about the heart as source of sin. Related: PRO 4:23; JER 17:9; MAT 5:8; MAT 12:34.

CONSCIENCE

ROM 2:14,15; 1TI 1:5,19; 1CO 8:7-13 -- relevant to food controversy discussions about conscience and weaker brothers.