7:1 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.
Another “fact finding” delegation from Jerusalem had been sent to investigate the activities of Jesus. Like big centralized government people they had an agenda and facts only mattered if they supported that agenda. They accused Jesus of failing to follow their tradition. To be fair, they could have been doing their proper job for which they should be commended but Jesus’ response indicates otherwise.
Jesus informs them that it is far more important to obey the laws of God rather than the traditions, sayings, and rules of men especially when those things violate the spirit and intent of God’s commands.
7:2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
This does not necessarily mean that they did not wash their hands before eating; it means they did not perform the elaborate ritual the Scribes and Pharisees had created.
7:3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
7:4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
7:5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
In verses 6-13 below Jesus gets right in their faces and reprimands them severely for rewriting the commands of the God of Father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who is the one and only true God. Based on verse 14 it does not appear that He publicly reprimanded them at this moment. They were expecting Jesus to tell His followers that they needed to change their ways in order to be acceptable before God, instead, Jesus tells this delegation from Jerusalem that they are the ones who need to change their ways, repent. Likewise, some hadiths, if not most, are not acceptable in the eyes of the one true God because they are from corrupted men and not from Him.
7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
7:10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
7:11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
7:12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
7:14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
All right now folks, gather around, and pay close attention to what I am telling you. Clean out the corruption that is found in your hearts and minds.
7:15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. The Holy One Called Isa – Pastor Ward Clinton
Stamp out individual thought? That sounds like every socialist dictator that ever wanted to take over the world. By the way, that always turns out bad, Tommy.
pastorwardclinton 