Mark 7 -- Building Fences To Keep Ourselves Unholy?

There's quite a bit of drama presented here, as the Pharisees and teachers of the law openly confronted Jesus because they believed their traditions were more important than Scripture!

Ritual hand washing had started not for sanitary purposes, but to remind the Jews of their separation as a people devoted to God.  "The scribes and Pharisees had given the tradition to the people to add to their burden ...  the Jews called tradition the fence of the law.  It was not the law that protected the tradition, but the tradition that protected the law ... A good reminder had gradually degenerated into an empty ritual and the result was pride and religious isolation. ... These washings conveyed a wrong idea of the nature of sin and personal holiness ... true holiness is a matter of inward affection and attitude and not just outward actions and associations," my commentary said.

Jesus quoted from the prophet Isaiah, "condemning the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and scribes ... they were destroying the influence and authority of the very Word of God... Once He had exposed their hypocrisy, Jesus then turned to the law of Moses and indicted them for breaking the fifth commandment!"

"Jesus announced to the whole crowd that the source of holy living is from within, not from without ... true holiness has always been a matter of the heart, a right relationship with God by faith ... the human heart is sinful and produces all manner of evil desires, thoughts, and actions... Jesus had no illusions about human nature ... He realized that man is a sinner, unable to control or change his own nature, and that is why Jesus came to earth -- to die for lost sinners."

Father, as much as I try to focus on You and Your Word, I agree that my human heart is sinful and capable of all manner of evil desires, thoughts, and actions.  My only hope is in You and Your Son and Your Spirit.  Help me to relinquish control over my heart at all times to You.  Alert me quickly when I'm trying to take back that control!

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford