Washing of pots and cups

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It is customary for Jews to frequently wash and cleanse their hands and feet; even upon death, a person's body is washed before burial—a practice observed in some form by religions across the world. However, merely keeping one's hands, feet, and body clean cannot grant us entry into heaven; we can enter heaven only if our hearts are pure and cleansed of the stain of sin. That is why God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth as a sacrifice to take away sin; it is the blood of Jesus Christ that washes and purifies us, enabling us to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.

Against this backdrop, a Pharisee who prided himself on outward purity invited Jesus Christ to dine with him. We ought to examine the manner in which he issued this invitation; typically, it is those in positions of authority who invite others to dine with them—much like how, even today, people are invited to banquets such as "Dinner with the Chief Minister." In this instance, the Pharisee invited the very God who created him to dine with him precisely because he considered himself to be of superior status -  37.While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. 38.The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. 39.And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40.You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 41.But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you. 42.But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone - Luke 11:37-42 

It is the custom of this world to greet and give gifts to the one who invited him to the feast, but here the Lord called the one who invited him to the feast a "fool", pointing out his heart that was devoid of sinful consciousness and love for God.

The Lord shared certain parables regarding such a heart—one lacking a sense of sin and divine love—which are recorded in the Gospel of Mark. Parables possess a direct meaning intended for the people of the world, while simultaneously holding an underlying meaning meant for God's children; we shall explore these in this collection.

Washing of pots and cups

Firstly, the parable the Lord spoke regarding a heart devoid of a sense of sin and asked this question "you hold the tradition of men the washing of pots and cups"- 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

When Jesus Christ spoke of "human traditions," He was not referring to the customs of ancestors or the culture of a society; rather, He was speaking of the sin that has followed us from generation to generation, beginning with Adam.

Furthermore, He used the phrase "you wash cups and vessels" to describe the actions we take to conceal sin. For instance, a murderer washes his knife to hide traces of the blood he shed; a thief wipes away fingerprints to conceal his theft; and one who commits adultery washes his private parts. Sometimes, this act of concealment extends even to abortion—literally "washing the womb."

This sin originated from Adam's transgression. It is in this context that the parables were spoken: the one who "observes the tradition of the elders and frequently washes his hands" represents the hypocrite, while the one who "bathes after returning from the marketplace" represents the man who enters another's wife without any sense of guilt or sin and conceal the trace.

Honor your father and your mother

Next, the Lord used the parable to show that these sinful things separate us from God, saying, "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions", And he used the law itself as an illustration to show that we have abandoned the love of God, saying, "For Moses said, 'Whoever curses father or mother must be put to death.'" - 9.He said to them, You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! 10.For Moses said, "Honor your father and your mother", and, "He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death". 11.But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban” (that is, a gift to God), 12.then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13.making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.” 14.When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15.There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16.If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear! - Mark 7:9-16

The Pharisees and the scribes likely did not realize that what the Lord had spoken to them was a parable, nor did they grasp its true meaning; however, the disciples whom the Lord taught understood that He had spoken a parable and asked Him to explain it to them - 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? 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 7:17-23

 Then the Lord listed the things that originate from within the human heart: evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual immorality, murders, thefts, greed, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. And God has called us to overcome these things and to live a holy life, cleansed by the blood of Jesus.

Next Chapter: Unless you turn and become like children