Text: Mark 7:1-13
Liturgical Date: Pentecost 14, Proper 16 (B)
Calendar Date: August 25, 2024
Location: St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Forestville, WI
Preacher: Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Jackson
TRANSCRIPT
Note: Transcription, editing, and formatting done by AI.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Desire a Heart Burning with Love for God
Do you desire to have a heart that burns with love for God and for His people? Christ reminds us that if this is our desire, which I hope it is for all of you, we must pay careful attention to our doctrine—the teachings we hold, believe, and promote in our homes and in our congregation. This is our theme for today: Doctrines of the Heart.
The Connection Between Doctrine and the Heart
Many people like to draw a sharp dividing line between matters of doctrine and matters of the heart. In fact, this is a criticism often leveled against congregations like St. Peter’s, where we take doctrine very seriously. Some may accuse us of focusing so much on doctrine that we neglect the heart. However, Christ shows us the truth: what we believe, preach, and teach deeply affects the heart. It can lead us to know, love, and trust in God, or, on the other hand, harden our hearts against Him.
Exploring the Gospel Lesson: Verse by Verse
As we have been doing for the past few months, we will take a close look at our Gospel lesson, examining it verse by verse. As we do so, we will explore this theme.
The Pharisees gathered to Jesus with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem. They noticed that some of His disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash.
The Pharisees and the Extension of God’s Law
Now, what’s going on here with all this talk of Pharisees and the washing of hands? Let’s take a moment to understand the Pharisees before we get into the washing of hands. The Pharisees had a tendency to extend the Law of God into areas where it was never intended to apply. They often extended the various codes and customs of the Temple and, before that, the Tabernacle into the daily life of every Israelite.
The logic behind this extension went something like this: God has called us to be a kingdom of priests, so it makes sense that our households should reflect God’s commands to the priests. This is what seems to be happening here with the washing of hands. There’s no commandment in the Old Testament that requires the vast majority of people to wash their hands before eating, or after returning from the marketplace. The Pharisees had extended the ritual washings of the Tabernacle and Temple into the daily life of the people.
The Ritual Washing of Hands and Its Implications
It’s important to note that this wasn’t about hygiene. The Pharisees weren’t concerned with dirt, grime, or germs—they didn’t even know germs existed. The washing was so ritualized that they would use as little water as possible, just going through the motions. The focus was on a ritualized sense of purity.
This is why the Pharisees were upset with Jesus and His disciples. Some of the disciples did not keep the custom which the Pharisees taught. Mark goes on to discuss this further, saying that the Pharisees also observed many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pots, copper vessels, and even dining couches.
Understanding the “Dining Couches” and Its Connection to Baptism
Now, here’s a little aside that Mark includes. The word “dining couches” has puzzled people for centuries. Some early versions of the Bible don’t include this word, while others do. The confusion likely arose because when people copied the Bible by hand, they would often do so by listening to someone read the text aloud. If the person copying thought they heard something that didn’t make sense—like “dining couches”—they might have left it out. But it seems that this was indeed part of the original text, and most modern Bibles include it.
In the ancient world, people didn’t eat at elevated tables while sitting in chairs. Instead, they ate lying on their sides with their heads pointed towards the table and their feet radiating outward. This is the context for Jesus washing the disciples’ feet—they were all lying on their sides, and He went around to wash the feet that were sticking out from the table.
The inclusion of “dining couches” also touches on an important point about baptism. The Greek word used here for “washing” is the same word, baptizo, that Jesus used when He commanded His disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Some Christians argue that baptism isn’t valid unless the person is fully immersed in water. While immersion is a perfectly valid form of baptism and can symbolize the death and resurrection of Christ, it is not required. Any amount of water, whether sprinkled or poured, makes a valid baptism.
Jesus Confronts the Pharisees on Tradition and Commandments
Mark continues by saying that the Pharisees and scribes asked Jesus, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” Jesus replied, quoting Isaiah: “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
Jesus wasn’t condemning tradition itself. Traditions can be good and salutary when they convey the Word of God. However, the Pharisees were teaching their own commandments, developed over time, as if they were from God. Their traditions revealed the hardness of their hearts and led others away from God.
The Pharisees’ Tradition of Corban
Jesus gives an example: the Pharisees taught that if a person made a vow to dedicate something to God, even if that vow went against God’s command to honor one’s parents, the vow must be kept. This meant that if someone vowed not to use their wealth to care for their aging parents, they were bound by that vow, even if their parents suffered as a result. This teaching prevented people from repenting and hardened their hearts against God.
Applying This Teaching to Our Lives
What does this mean for your life as a Christian today?
1. Seek to Know the Truth
First, seek to know the truth. Immerse yourself in the Bible and listen to good, faithful preaching and teaching. This truth will build you up, strengthen you against false teaching, and lead you in the way of eternal life.
2. Do Not Let Unscriptural Demands Burden Your Conscience
Second, don’t let unscriptural demands burden your conscience. The world, and sometimes even people within the church, may make demands that are not based on Scripture. Don’t let these demands weigh you down, but let your conscience be freed by the true doctrine of God’s Word.
3. Trust in God’s Word
Third, when God’s Word confronts you with something that doesn’t make sense to you, trust in His Word. Don’t stand in judgment over God’s Word, but let it shape and mold you into the vessel of love that He desires you to be.
4. Hold Fast to the Doctrine of Justification
Finally, and most importantly, hold fast to the doctrine of justification through God’s free grace and mercy in the righteous life and atoning death of Jesus. The Holy Spirit uses this doctrine to turn our hearts to God, transforming our cold, stony hearts into fertile fields that bear fruit for Him and for others.
Conclusion: Hold Fast to Good Doctrine
Brothers and sisters in Christ, hold fast to good, true, and right doctrine so that your heart might burn with love for God and for others.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
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