The True Meaning of Mark 7:14: The Declaration of Cleansing All Foods.
In the gospel of Mark, an encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees unfolds, centered around handwashing before meals. This passage, found in Mark 7:1-20, examines the clash between the religious traditions of the elders and Jesus' teachings on matters of defilement. Understanding the context of this interaction is crucial to understanding its true meaning.
The Pharisees and some scribes, arriving from Jerusalem, took notice of Jesus' disciples eating bread with unwashed hands, which they deemed as defiled or unclean. The context of Mark 7 does not involve what the disciples were eating but how they were eating it. The Pharisees and Jews, adhering to the tradition of the elders, emphasized the ceremonial washing of hands before partaking in meals. This act was not merely a hygienic practice but held significant religious importance.
However, as we delve deeper into the dialogue between Jesus and the Pharisees, it becomes evident that the focus of the discussion extends far beyond hygiene practices. Jesus confronts the Pharisees about their adherence to external rituals held to a higher degree than God's commandments and points out their hypocrisy and their failure to recognize the true nature of defilement.
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Mark 7:14-23 records Jesus' response to the Pharisees, explaining that it is not what enters a person from the outside that defiles them but rather the impurities that come from within, originating from the heart. Jesus challenges the Pharisees' misplaced priorities and highlights the essence of true defilement as being rooted in one's thoughts, intentions, and actions.
The controversial phrase, "Thus Jesus declared all foods clean," has generated debates among scholars due to its absence in older Greek manuscripts. This addition, found in some translations, suggests a broader declaration by Jesus regarding the cleanliness of all types of food. However, upon closer inspection, we see an alternative interpretation that raises questions about its authenticity.
This article will explore Mark 7:1-20 and unravel the true meaning behind the encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees. Through careful analysis of the text, examination of alternate translations, and historical context, we seek to shed light on the more profound significance of Jesus' teachings and their relevance to our lives today. Let us embark on this journey of discovery, uncovering the truths hidden within the passages of Mark 7:1-20.
Mark 7:1-20
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 food (artos) with defiled (koinos) hands, 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 pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do."
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!"
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.
Mark 7 delves into the significance of the elders' tradition regarding the ceremonial washing of hands before meals. The Greek word used for "defiled" in Mark 7, (Koinos), conveys the meaning of common, unclean, or unholy, referring to something that is ritually unacceptable due to either contamination or its inherent nature.
In this context, the word "food" is translated from the Greek term (Artos), primarily meaning bread but also encompassing the broader concept of food or nourishment. It's important to note that this verse does not explicitly address the topic of meat consumption. Similarly, the word "unwashed" literally signifies the lack of washing.
For the Pharisees, the focus was not on the type of food consumed but on how it was consumed. Their concern revolved around observing proper rituals and traditions associated with cleanliness.
Regarding Mark 7:19, various translations contain different interpretations, including the phrase "thus Jesus declared all foods clean." However, it's worth noting that this addition is absent in most Greek translations predating the last century. Older Greek manuscripts do not include this specific phrase. Additionally, Matthew 15:16, which presents the same situation from Matthew's perspective, omits this phrase entirely. You will only find this Declaration of Jesus in the newer Greek manuscripts.
If this phrase were accurate (however unlikely), here are a few alternative translations from Greek manuscripts: "since it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is expelled (thus purifying all foods)." The Greek word "expelled" (ekporeuomai) signifies the process of elimination or going out from an enclosed space. Some Greek manuscripts include additional words following "expelled" (eis ho aphedron), where "eis" denotes a change of state or movement into, "ho" translates to "the," and "aphedron" refers to a toilet or place of waste elimination.
Another Greek translation provides the following understanding: "Because it does not go into his heart but into the cavity, and into the sewer. Does it make all the eatables clean?" This interpretation highlights the purification process through the elimination of waste.
The phrase "thus Jesus declared all foods clean" was likely added by Eberhard Nestle and Kurt Aland, who produced the NA28, a widely recognized scholarly edition of the Greek New Testament. However, it's important to note that no Bible translation over a century old contains this specific phrase.
If we consider the phrase "Jesus declared all foods clean," it could imply that foods were either considered clean once they transformed into human waste or that foods deemed clean by God were ritually clean. The context of the conversation primarily centers around the ritual cleanliness associated with not washing one's hands, which is likely a tradition intended to prevent ritual impurity according to oral tradition and not God's word. Jesus emphasizes that food, as defined by the Bible, does not become unclean due to dirty or unwashed hands.