Pollution
Mark 7
So Jesus gets into a difficult conversation with some of the religious leaders. They think the disciples should wash their hands before they eat. Those are the rules and just about all the Jews follow them, but here Jesus' disciples seem to be doing whatever they please. Jesus lays into them, calling the religious leaders frauds! He points to a scripture from Isaiah which says, "These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn't in it. They act like they are worshiping me, but they don't mean it."
Jesus went on, though, pointing out how these religious leaders were willfully misinterpreting scripture to get what they want. He pointed to a rule they had created that said a person could ignore an obligation they have to a mother or father if they gave that gift to God instead. This obviously violates God's clear command to honor your mother and father! This is the sort of thing that truly pollutes a person, not ignoring ritual hand washing procedures. Its the actions that spring from our hearts that truly matter.
What's in your heart? Do you avoid obligation by reinterpreting what is good and right? Pray for a clean heart so you can do good and have it truly mean something.
So Jesus gets into a difficult conversation with some of the religious leaders. They think the disciples should wash their hands before they eat. Those are the rules and just about all the Jews follow them, but here Jesus' disciples seem to be doing whatever they please. Jesus lays into them, calling the religious leaders frauds! He points to a scripture from Isaiah which says, "These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn't in it. They act like they are worshiping me, but they don't mean it."
What's in your heart? Do you avoid obligation by reinterpreting what is good and right? Pray for a clean heart so you can do good and have it truly mean something.