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2 Peter 1:11 "For so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

Day 163 – Mark 7

“For so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:11

THE DEPTH OF JESUS’ TEACHING

The Disciples must have been absolutely amazed when Jesus explained to them in greater detail what He had spoken to the multitudes!

“So He said to them,
‘Are you thus without understanding also?
Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside
cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart
but his stomach and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?'”
MARK 7:18-19

1. The Old Testament Diet Laws

Moses gave very clear instructions concerning clean and unclean food (Cf. Leviticus 11). However, the issue of ritual cleansing taught by the scribes and Pharisees is not about this Levitical Law at all.

2. Ritual cleansing

a) The scribes and Pharisees were implying that eating with unwashed hands would cause a person to be defiled.

b) This ceremonial defilement taught by the scribes and Pharisees had further implications, one of which is that the individual is considered unclean by God Himself!

3. The need for clear and deep understanding

The Disciples lacked clear understanding at that point of time. They must have a deeper understanding so that if they were queried again, they would be able to defend themselves adequately.

a) The difference between the stomach and the heart

i) God looks at the heart and not the stomach.

ii) Any food consumed would only enter the stomach- never the heart.

b) An obvious overstatement by the scribes and Pharisees

i) Their insistence that food eaten with unwashed hands brings about defilement was grossly overstated.

ii) Even if it is a matter of hygiene, that which is dirty would be eliminated by the body… (the body would “purify” all food eaten… naturally).