Some teachers of the law from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus to look for a way to criticize him. They pointed to the disciples who were eating with "unwashed" hands. It was an offense against the Jewish tradition. The traditions were not the law of God but developed by the elders to help people keep the law better. However, as Jesus taught his disciples later, the tediously crafted tradition became rather a heavy burden on the people (Mt 23:4), making it more difficult to live according to God's will.

Jesus pointed to their hypocrisy with the example of people using the tradition for their convenience to avoid obeying the law of God. Dedicating their assets to God (Corban) was a tradition, but they used it as an excuse not to use their resources to take care of their parents, breaking the law of Moses to "honor your father and mother." (13)

Jesus then told the crowd and his disciples what defiles a person were the evil thoughts produced inside a man. It was not eating with unwashed hands that defiled a person. Instead of caring for our outward appearance, we need to keep our hearts before God to keep ourselves clean.


Application: Father, thank you for reminding us today that you see our hearts, not merely our actions. Be with me as I come to you to examine my heart and be right before you.
One Word: Keep my heart before the Lord.