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Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Mark 7:6-8

The Lord's answer: v. 6. He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. v. 7. Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. v. 8. For laying aside the commandments of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups; and many other such like things ye do. In cases of weakness and lack of understanding the Lord... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Mark 7:1-23

2. Contest with the Pharisees and Scribes from Jerusalem concerning Traditions respecting Eating. Mark 7:1-23.(Parallel: Matthew 15:1-20.)      1Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. 2And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled [common ], that is to say, with unwashen hands, they found fault.1 3For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the 4elders. And... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Mark 7:1-23

Breaking the Bonds of Tradition Mark 7:1-23 The Pharisees laid great stress on ritual. They followed endless rules, both intricate and troublesome, as to ablutions and outward ceremonials. So long as their devotees were careful in the minor observances, they were permitted a wide license so far as the weightier matters of the Law were concerned. This is a natural tendency of the human heart. It is glad to be able to reduce its religious life to an outward and literal obedience, if only its... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Mark 7:1-37

In strong and clear language the Master denounced tradition as contrary to the commandment of God. 1. Things from without do not defile, and therefore are not sin. Temptation is not sin. 2. Only that is sin which comes from within, which is the deliberate outcome of the determining will of man. 3. Such determinings are the sources of defilement. 4. The list of evil things which the Master gives includes every possible form of evil, and these defile a man when they proceed from him in acts.... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 7:1-8

Jesus Faces Up To The Scribes From Jerusalem And Warns Them Against A False Emphasis On Their Traditions Instead Of On The Commandment of God (7:1-8). Here Jesus makes clear that ‘the traditions of the elders’ are not binding on men because they are not a part of the Scriptures, but are the traditions of men. All societies build up traditions, but all need to recognise that in the end they have no binding force, and do not apply to all. It is otherwise with the word of God. Analysis. a And... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 7:1-16

The Scribes from Jerusalem Return To Learn Some Home Truths (7:1-16). Jesus’ continued impact is now brought out by the reappearance of the Doctors of Law from Jerusalem who have come down to investigate Him again. It may well be that they had heard of the new widespread preaching activity. They recognised that this was becoming something serious. This incident brings out vital differences between Jesus’ approach and the approach of ‘the Scribes’. They were concerned with ritual detail, and... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 7:1-37

Jesus begins To Reach Out To Gentiles (7:1-8:21). At this stage in His ministry Jesus begins to reach out further afield, for from this point on He spends much time preaching in territory which is mainly Gentile, although still containing many Jews. He prepares His disciples for it by His words to the Scribes and Pharisees, and then to the people, on what is truly essential, and then moves on to Tyre and Sidon where a Syro-phoenician woman’s simple faith brings home the right of Gentiles to... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 7:6-8

‘And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.’ You desert the commandment of God and hold fast the tradition of men.” ’ Jesus then cited the words of Isaiah which indicated how hypocritical men were. With their lips they gave great honour to God, but in their hearts they were far from Him. For rather than... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 7:1-23

Mark 7:1-Isaiah : . The Washing of Hands and the Traditions of the Elders.— This discussion with the Pharisees serves to bring out the antagonism of Jesus to the restrictions which separated Jews from Gentiles. Perhaps for this reason it is associated with the story of the Syro-Phœ nician woman. In substance it is connected with the disputes recorded in chs. 2f. The Jerusalem scribes of Mark 3:22 reappear in Mark 7:1. Into the original story some explanations are inserted, e.g. the... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Mark 7:1-13

See Poole on "Matthew 15:1", and following verses to Matthew 15:9. By the notion of traditions, our Saviour understandeth not such things as were delivered to them by God in his law, but such things as were delivered to them by the elders, that is, their rulers in the church in the former times; for, Mark 7:9, he opposeth traditions to God’s commandments, and said the latter were neglected by their zeal for the former: to give countenance to which traditions, as the papists would impose upon us... read more

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