MARK 07:01-13
QUESTION ON TRADITIONS OF ELDERS
Text – Mark 7:1–13
1 Now when the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him,
2 they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.
3 (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders;
4 and on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles [and beds].)
5 So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”
6 He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
7 In vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines human precepts.’
8 You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”
9 He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition!
10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother shall die.’
11 Yet you say, ‘If a person says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban” (meaning, dedicated to God),
12 you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother.
13 You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”
Historical and Jewish Context
This confrontation reflects a growing tension between Jesus and the religious authorities. The Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem represented the official guardians of Jewish religious practice. Their concern was not about hygiene but ritual purity, based on oral traditions developed to safeguard the Mosaic Law. Washing hands, vessels, and utensils before eating was a ritual act symbolizing holiness and separation from defilement. The term “tradition of the elders” referred to interpretations and customs transmitted by rabbis, which often extended beyond the written Law.
The practice of declaring something “korban” (meaning “offering to God”) allowed individuals to dedicate property to the Temple. However, some used this vow to evade responsibility toward their parents, violating the commandment to honor father and mother. Jesus exposes this hypocrisy: human traditions were being used to nullify divine commandments. His critique was not against all tradition but against traditions that distorted or replaced God’s will.
Catholic Theological Perspective
From a Catholic standpoint, this passage distinguishes between divine revelation—which remains unchangeable—and human traditions—which can either illuminate or obscure God’s truth. Jesus defends the primacy of God’s commandments over rigid, external observances. True worship flows from a sincere heart, not mere ritual compliance. Quoting Isaiah (29:13), Jesus emphasizes interior conversion as the essence of religion.
Catholic theology values Sacred Tradition when it is in harmony with Scripture, for both arise from divine revelation. However, human traditions that contradict God’s law are rightly rejected. The moral lesson is timeless: religion must never become an external display detached from love and obedience to God. Jesus invites His followers to a purity that begins in the heart and expresses itself in charity and justice.
Parallels in Scripture
Isaiah 29:13 – “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
1 Samuel 15:22 – “Obedience is better than sacrifice.”
Matthew 15:1–9 – The parallel account of the same controversy.
Micah 6:6–8 – God desires justice, mercy, and humility rather than ritual sacrifice.
John 4:24 – “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Key Terms
Tradition of the elders: Oral laws developed by rabbis to regulate daily life.
Unclean hands: A matter of ritual, not physical impurity.
Korban: A vow dedicating property to God, sometimes abused to avoid familial duties.
Hypocrisy: Outward religiosity without inner fidelity to God.
Catholic Liturgical Significance
This Gospel is often read during Ordinary Time and in the context of Lenten reflection on conversion of heart. It calls the faithful to examine their own religious practices—ensuring they are expressions of love, not legalism. The Church honors authentic tradition that communicates faith but warns against forms of religiosity that neglect compassion, justice, and mercy. This passage also reminds ministers and faithful alike that holiness is interior before it is external.
Conclusion
Jesus teaches that true religion flows from a heart aligned with God’s will, not from external conformity. The Pharisees’ preoccupation with ritual purity masked a deeper impurity—the pride of placing human rules above divine love. Christ restores the balance between law and mercy, revealing that God desires a heart renewed by grace, not bound by empty formalism.
Reflection
Do I practice my faith from the heart or merely through habit? The Lord calls me to authenticity, where my actions reflect genuine love for God and neighbor.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You desire mercy and sincerity more than ritual or words. Purify my heart from hypocrisy and pride. Teach me to honor You with my life, not just my lips, and to live Your commandments in love and truth. Amen.