Previous Chapter: Love your neighbor [Jesus] as yourself
The disciples have seen the miracles work of the Jesus, but they still did not know that Jesus is our redeemer, and his blood alone can save us, that's when this incident happened, the pharisees and scribes came all the way from Jerusalem, the pharisees and scribes commands great respect among jews, and if they are from mainline synagogue they will receive special honor and respect from local people, but here Jesus called pharisees and scribes as hypocrites, and spoke to them in parables - 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
At first hand, its appears as Jesus was anger on these pharisees and scribes because they are following tradition of the elders and emphasizing them, which is true they gave importance to the traditions over the God's commandments, but when Jesus said the "tradition of the elders", He is talking about the our sinful nature that started from Adam, Jesus was so anger for committing these sins just like visiting the marketplace, and then washing ourself - 9.He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition 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
Its very hard to realize, what Jesus had spoken was a parable, however, the disciples, who had been trained by Lord, understood that "tradition of the elders" has deeper meaning and asked Him 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? 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
You hold the tradition of men the washing of pots and cups
That's when Jesus explained about all types of sinful nature [tradition of the elders] that passes from generation to generation, and then He spoke about our attempt in hiding our sins [washing of pots and cups], for example, a murderer would wash his knife and guns to hide his blood shed murder, and a thief would wash his hammer and crowbars to hide the robbery, like wise the adulterous person will wash his private parts to hide the sexual sin, some time the washing goes deeper to the level of abortion, those who do not know Lord will practice these sins, just like one would simply go to a marketplace for shopping, and then Lord said such a practices must not exist among us.
Next Chapter: Unless you turn and become like children