Lessons of Jesus
Chapter 6: Washing of pots and cups

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The disciples have seen the power of the Lord, but they still did not know that Christ is our redeemer and by his own blood alone we can be cleansed, that's when this incident had happened, If someone comes to visit us from afar, it is customary to expect respect and importance, but here Christ gave importance to his disciples over the Pharisees and scribes who came all the way from Jerusalem, and then Christ spoke this to them in parables, the Pharisees and scribes neither understood what Lord's parable nor its true meaning - 1.Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. 2.Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3.For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4.When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches. 5.Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” 6.He answered and said to them, “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. 7.And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. 8.For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men the washing of pots and cups, and many other such things you do - Mark 7:1-8

However, the disciples, who had been taught by the Lord, realized that what He had spoken was a parable, but they could not interpret it as it held a deeper meaning, so, they asked the Lord Himself to explain it - 17.When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. 18.So He said to them, Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19.because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods? - Mark 7:17-19

 
How we can co-relate the parable and its interpretation? first we need to understand what Lord had spoken to the pharisees was a parable, and then when we need to read Christ's explanation.

When Christ said "you hold the tradition of men the washing of pots and cups", the direct meaning of this parable is keeping the tradition of the elders, and the actual meaning is the sinful nature that passes from generation to generation - 20.And He said, What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21.For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22.thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23.All these evil things come from within and defile a man - Mark 7:20-23

and then "washing of pots and cups" means our attempt in hiding our sins, for example, a murderer would wash his knife and guns to hide the evidences of his blood shed murder, and a thief or covetousness person would wash his hammer and crowbars to hide the robbery or burglary that he did, like wise the adulterous person will wash his private parts after committing the sexual sin, some time the washing goes deeper as abortion [washing the uterus]. 

And the Bible says, the Pharisees and Jews used to hold these tradition, and will wash the cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches quit often, and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. its basically for those who do not know Lord will practice these sins, just like one would simply go to a marker for shopping, and then Lord said such a practices must not exist among us.

Next Chapter: Children's Crumbs