Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

1 March 2025

Reading From Mark 7:1-13

“The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)”

—Mark 7:1-4

     This passage perplexes modern readers especially in recent years when handwashing and hygiene has been emphasized as a means of controlling the spread of disease.  I have to admit, I’m inclined to side with the Pharisees and teachers of the law on this one for the cleanliness factor, but there is an issue here that is deeper and more complex than whether or not we are to wash our hands.  It has to do with obeying tradition rather what the Word of God actually says.

     Handwashing had developed among the Jews into a ritual.  Germs were not discovered until the 17^th century AD, so this was not about preventing the spread of disease so much as a tradition that had evolved into handwashing and dishwashing ceremonies.  Washing your hands before meals is not found in the Torah.  Where this practice had its origin with Exodus 40:30-32, “He set the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing, with which Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet. When they went into the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed, as the Lord commanded Moses.”

     This had nothing to do with washing before meals, but that is what the religious leaders developed as their tradition over time.  We are to obey God, rather than men.  Rather than allowing the disciples of Jesus the freedom to follow the actual Law of Moses, they insisted that they also follow all of the man-made rules that had been added to it over the centuries.  I would say wash your hands, but don’t make it something that you shame people about.  Jesus is about taking away our shame, giving us freedom by liberating us from man-made, toxic religion.

“Lord, where Your Spirit is there is freedom.  I pray that as we follow You, we would be more concerned about what Your Scriptures actually teach rather than the traditions that have built up around the Church.  Speak to our hearts.  Bring clarity to our minds.  Help us to focus on You and not man-made rules.  In the Name of Jesus I pray these things, Amen.”

Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!”—Acts 5:29