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Study No.9 : Fussy Pharisees : Mark 7:1-7

A. Find Out:

        

1. Who came to Jesus? v.1

2. What did they observe? v.2

3. How was this contrary to their practice? v.3,4

4. What standard did they expect Jesus to live by? v.5

5. Who did Jesus quote? v.6

6. Whose teachings did he say they followed? v.7

 

B. Think :

1. On what basis did these "religious men" say they ruled their lives?

2. What emphasis did Jesus put on that?

3. What does this teach us for today?

 

C. Comment :

     The Pharisees, this religious grouping, came with some teachers of the Law and unwittingly exposed the foundations of their religious life to the gaze of Jesus (that was not how they saw it!).

     It became very clear that they were most concerned about outward performance of ritual and rule, which had been formulated by the elders, the most senior of their people, in this particular case about the hands, which should be ceremonially cleaned before eating.

    When they challenge Jesus about the behaviour of his disciples, it is on the grounds that they are not living according to the tradition of the elders. Now tradition is habit that has grown up by long usage and the elders were not God! Jesus is simply pointing out that they are following man-made rules and not God-given law.

     The major failing of the religious people of Jesus' day was that they had substituted ritual for relationship, i.e. they were more concerned about outward religious behaviour than whether a person had a real, living relationship with God, and Jesus pointed this out using an Old Testament reference when God had spoken against loveless worship.

 

D. Application?

1. Is our "religion" all about "ritual" i.e. outward religious acts, or is it about

     a living dynamic relationship with God through Jesus?

2. Release ritual and yearn after relationship.

 

    

Study No.10 : Dishonest Religion : Mark 7:8-16

A. Find Out:    

       

1. What did Jesus say they had done? v.8,9

2. What had Moses said? v.10

3. What had the Pharisees done? v.11

4. What effect had this had? v.12,13

5. What did Jesus then do? v.14

6. What did Jesus say was important? v.15

 

B. Think :

1. What was Jesus' complaint against the Pharisees?

2. What was HIS main emphasis in the matter?

3. What does that teach us today?

 

C. Comment :

     Above we said that Jesus' main complaint was that the religious leaders had substituted outward performance man-devised religion for a God-centred relationship. Today's reading continues with that. Jesus again emphasises that they have put aside God's rules based on heart relationship and have substituted man made traditions, some of which even went against God's law.

      To illustrate how they had done this Jesus cited God's law, "Honour your father and mother" which the Pharisees had annulled by saying that gifts need not be given to parents if they were given to God instead. They had so over-spiritualised God's law as to make it meaningless.

      Then, referring back to their complaint about the disciples eating without washing, Jesus uses this illustration to emphasise that inward heart feelings are far more important than outward superficial behaviour. The worst "dirt" is not that on the hands but that in the heart! Christianity is the one world religion that deals with the inner man rather than concentrate on mere outward behaviour. Outward behaviour should follow an inner rightness, NOT the other way round.

 

D. Application?

1. Check again today to see if your "religion" is more concerned with

     outward behaviour than heart love for God through Jesus.

2. Ask the Lord to help you see this clearly. 

   

    

Study No.11 : Unclean Hearts : Mark 7:17-23

A. Find Out:

        

1. When did the disciples question Jesus? v.17

2. What can't make a man unclean? v.18

3. Where do unclean things lodge? v.19

4. How did Jesus challenge (or seemingly change) their ceremonial understanding?

     v.19c

5. From where does uncleanness originate? v.21

6. What is it that makes a person unclean? v.23

 

B. Think :

1. Why do you think the disciples waited to ask Jesus about what he had

    been saying?

2. How did Jesus feel about their questioning?

3. What, again, was he at pains to point out?

 

C. Comment :

     We continue to take note of this very important teaching that Jesus is bringing in answer to the queries from the Pharisees, and we now see Jesus continuing to speak about what is clean or unclean and extending the discussion from washing of hands to include what goes into people. Jesus showed that the Pharisees' emphasis on clean and unclean food was pure externalism and has nothing to do with the question of goodness. It is what is in a person's heart that makes them "unclean". If there are evil thoughts in a person's heart, THAT is what makes the person unclean, NOT the sort of food he eats.

      In declaring all food "clean" Jesus removed the very source of so much of the Jews' externalism. That God had distinguished between foods for the sake of ceremonial obedience was without doubt, but in reality it was not the food that made clean or unclean, but the heart obedience or disobedience. The failure of so much "religion" is that it focuses on what we DO rather than WHO we are, i.e. doing to become good rather than doing as an expression of our goodness.

 

D. Application?

1. For a third time, examine your life to see what things you are doing that

    are outward show and not a true reflection of your heart.

2. Ask the Lord to fill your heart with love for Him.

 

Study No.12 : A Lady's Faith : Mark 7:24-30

A. Find Out:

           

1. What was the woman's problem? v.25

2. Where did she come from? v.26

3. Who did Jesus say should have the bread? v.27a

4. Who did he say shouldn't have it? v.27b

5. What did she say they may have? v.28

6. How did Jesus respond to that? v.29

 

B. Think :

1. From the first part of this story, what was Jesus trying to do?

2. How did this woman cut across that?

3. What do you think was the point of this picturesque dialogue?

 

C. Comment :

      Jesus went to a specific house well out of the usual region of his ministry, presumably either to rest or to see a specific person. However while he is there this Gentile lady comes with a plea for her daughter. How we view the conversation that followed depends, as it does so often, on our own heart condition. Some may see it as a hard dialogue, but perhaps, however, it was just the opposite to that.

      Can we imagine this woman being a well educated lady (quite likely a Greek born in Syro-Phoenicia) and Jesus words to her accompanied by a gentle smile. He is a Jew who, it seems, was coming to the Jews specifically. Possibly she has feelings about the Jews sticking with Jews and so Jesus laughingly suggests in this figurative language that he's only come to feed the Jews. She, rising to his lightness, replies that perhaps she can therefore have some of the leftovers. Whatever it is, Jesus is pleased with her answer and grants her petition. Even from a distance Jesus can deal with demons! She's freed!

 

D. Application?

1. How do we respond when Jesus says things that don't appear very clear

     at first sight. Do we think the best of him - or criticise?

2. Ask the Lord to purify your heart towards Him.

3. If the Lord appears to hold back, do we keep on asking?

 

  

Study No.13 : A Deaf Man Hears : Mark 7:31-37

A. Find Out:

          

1. What was wrong with the man who came? v.32a

2. What did the people want Jesus to do? v.32b

3. What did Jesus do to communicate with the man? v.33

4. What did Jesus command? v.34

5. With what effect? v.35

6. What effect did it have on the people? v.36b,37

 

B. Think :

1. Why do you think Jesus took the man away to heal him?

2. What do you think Jesus' big sigh indicates?

3. Why do you think Jesus told them not to tell anyone about what he had

    done?

 

C. Comment :

    Observe first that Jesus is in a new area in the south, when this deaf semi-mute is brought to him. How Jesus deals with him is very instructive. First he takes the man aside, perhaps to put him at ease away from the crowd. Then in virtual deaf and dumb language Jesus communicates with him saying "I will touch your hearing" and "I will touch your tongue". Jesus cares for all of us, whatever our state and communicates in ways we can understand.

      He next looked to heaven, possibly praying silently and acknowledging His father's presence and asking for His help. He then sighs, an indication of his involvement with the man; he feels for him, and also, perhaps, it is an effort to bring the releasing. Finally he makes the simple command, "Be opened" and the man ears are opened and his tongue released. Jesus instruction not to tell others is perhaps to stop being overwhelmed by too many people coming for healing. We have seen the caring and compassionate Jesus gently communicating and bringing healing, in ways that met the man just where he was.

 

D. Application?

1. Are we aware of Jesus gently communicating with us (in sign language?)

    when we are so often almost spiritually deaf?

2. Ask the Lord to release your tongue in praise, worship, & prayer.

  

RECAP No.2  "Further Disputes"  Mark 7

SUMMARY :  

       

In these 5 studies we have seen:

  - Pharisees' concern with outward cleanliness & ritual

  - Jesus' rebuke about their dishonest religion

  - Jesus speaking about clean hearts of obedience

  - a Greek woman pleading with him for her daughter

  - Jesus delivering her daughter from a demon

  - Jesus returning and healing a deaf mute

  

COMMENT :

      A chapter that is much taken up with conflict with the legalistic Pharisees who are only concerned with externalism. Jesus shows that it is what goes on inside a person's heart that is all important, NOT the external religious ritual!

      Then we are shown by contrast a believing Gentile woman outside their usual area. If inside Israel , the religious people won't believe, outside it the Gentiles will. Finally the power of Jesus opens ears and tongue. If only the Pharisees could hear properly as well!

 

LESSONS :

1. Our religion is to be relationship with God, not religious ritual

2. Heart love for Jesus precedes the way we behave (one will follow the other)

3. Our hearts are shown in our response to Jesus when we don't fully understand what

     He has said.

4. The Lord wants to "open our ears" to hear and understand and "release our

     tongues" to praise Him.

 

PRAY :

      Ask the Lord yet again to fill your heart with love for Him through the understanding you have as you read His word, and cleanse you of externalism.

 

PART 3 :  "Blindness!"

     In this next chapter in the midst of two miracles we will see first of all confusion and misunderstanding by the disciples followed by clarity, confusion and clarity as to Jesus and His mission. Watch for it!