1The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and 2saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were "unclean," that is, unwashed. 3(The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.[a])
5So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with 'unclean' hands?"

6He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
" 'These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
7They worship me in vain;
their teachings are but rules taught by men.'[b] 8You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."

9And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe[c] your own traditions! 10For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,'[d] and, 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.'[e] 11But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban' (that is, a gift devoted to God), 12then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. 13Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that."
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I just wanted to discuss Mark 7 with you all. A couple of questions.

Is Mark 7 still relevant to us?

Do you notice there are people like the pharisee's even in today's age, holding onto traditions and teaching them?

And what is it we should take out of Mark 7 and how can we apply it to our own lives?

I was just looking for an intelligent discussion on those questions pertaining to Mark 7

Is Mark 7 still relevant to us?
Yea. It's not right to rather fulfill a tradition than to extend your hand to help someone.

Do you notice there are people like the pharisee's even in today's age, holding onto traditions and teaching them?
I think the church age is teaching all Christians a tradition. A vast majority of Christians go to church, sit down, and go back home. Others do what they want outside of church, disreguarding what the Bible says. Others have a certain outlook on Christianity, other than what the Bible says.
Christianity is not what we see in church, on T.V., or what we hear about. Christianity is practicing what the Bible teaches.
So the tradition of church takes over practicing the Bible.

And what is it we should take out of Mark 7 and how can we apply it to our own lives?
Seek God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. Find out what his will is, and find out what he says, and stop relying on what man and church has to say.
Pastors and church is good, but if that is what we are basing our beliefs on, then we aren't following Christ completely.

This post has been edited by h03t: Nov 5 2009, 04:50 AM