Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Jesus made this comment in connection with a discussion of the ritual washing of hands prior to eating. Not doing so was held by the religious authorities to cause a person to become ceremonially defiled or unclean.

Jesus first pointed out that it was not what went into a person that made the person unclean, for anything eaten (even if eaten with unwashed hands) passed through the digestive system, and the waste products of digestion were then expelled from the body.

Instead, Jesus said, it was what came out of a person (that is, from the person's heart) that could cause defilement, for it is in the heart that sinful behavior such as murder, theft, and adultery is first conceived.

Jesus then used this as a point of departure (as He did on other occasions in the gospels as well) to criticize the manner in which the religious authorities of His time had added man-made traditions or requirements (such as the washing of hands before eating) to the commandments given by God Himself.

These same authorities had then proclaimed that their traditions had the same weight or importance as God's law, even though God had had nothing to do with their establishment, and even though, in some cases, the traditions even violated the clear intent of laws given by God -- such as a person being able to avoid the responsibility mandated by God to honor and care for parents by telling the parents that the resources that should have gone toward their care were instead dedicated to God (Mark 7:10-13).

Jesus compared such man-made traditions to "plants not planted by God the Father", and indicated that God would root up (that is completely remove and destroy through His judgment) such traditions, along with those who practiced them.

July 07 2016 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Thomas K M A retired Defence Scientist from Indian Defence R&D Orgn.

Jesus during His earthly ministry, rebuked Pharisees and Sadducees many times on their religious hypocrisy. This is one such occasion where He prophesied that those who do not respect the teachings of God the Father will be destroyed. They have made the word of God invalid because of their tradition. They are blind leaders and uphold tradition blindly. 

Matthew 23 records the final public sermon of the Lord, which is a scathing rebuke of the religious hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees. 

Isaiah aptly prophesied when he said: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far removed from me. It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, for they teach commands of men as doctrines. (Isaiah 29:13, Matt. 15:8-9).

Whatever doctrine is not delivered by God, or whatever ordinance is not instituted by him; whatever is not of heaven, must be opposed and rejected; and sooner or later will be utterly rooted up and destroyed.

July 07 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report