Defining the Final Authority #

Mark 7:1-13

Introduction

We have a showdown again between Jesus and the Pharisees. They simply cannot leave well enough alone the Lord Jesus Christ. He was winning the hearts of the people, and they were being left behind. Their influence, their position, their authority, was all being threatened by Jesus presence.

These were not interested in truth, they were interested in maintaining their prestige, the position, and their prominence among the people.

Jesus clearly puts the emphasis where it needs to be, and clarifies what is to be our final authority. This is still true today. Many religions place importance on traditions, books, or people, that are not the Word of God! This is not new, it was going on in Jesus day, and it goes on today.

I. The Enemies (1) #

A. The Pharisees (Scholars) #

1. Not priests ordained by God #

- God had ordained priests from the tribe of Levi, in the OT.
- Priests were responsible for administering the sacrifices.
- Priests were responsible for knowing the law, caring for the Tabernacle, and then the temple.
- Pharisees are not priests. -

2. Self ordained experts of the law. #

Acts 23:6 ...Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: ...

Phil. 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

B. The Prestige “came from Jerusalem” #

C. The Problem (Mark 7:2) #

II. The Examination (3-5) #

A. Traditions (3-4a) #

1. Traditions – the unwritten delivery of information, and practices. #

2. Washing your hands is not necessarily a bad thing #

B. Teachings (4) “many other things” #

1. Washing cups, pots, vessels and tables! #

C. The questioning (5) #

1. They were not worried about the disciples cleanliness! #

2. They were worried about Jesus and his disciples not endorsing the traditions, and teachings they were peddling! #

3. They were fishing for an endorsement of their traditions, and teachings #

III. The Education (6-23) #

Jesus schools the Pharisees in their own traditions, and how they had disavowed the Word of God!

A. Denouncements (6-13) #

1. Hypocrites (6-7) #

- A hypocrite is someone who is always righteous, and constantly condemning others.
  - No one can be holier than a hypocrite. The Bible says it this way:

Is. 65:5 Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.

2. Holding traditions (8) #

- There were ceremonial washings in the law, but they had added to the law! They had gone beyond what was required of the law, and made new traditions!
- This was one example, “and many other such like things ye do.”

3. Handoff the Word (8-9, 13) #

- The example (10-12): Corban is a Hebrew word that was brought over into the Greek NT, and then left for us as a Hebrew word in the English (Transliterated).
  - It is a Bible command, we are to honour our parents, however the Jews if they dedicated something to God, they were then no longer required to “support” their parents. They would dedicate things to God, so as not to honour their parents!

Mark 7:1