ACC ~ Mark 7 v1 - 23

OVERVIEW:

God sees straight through our evasions to our deepest inward intention (CLEMENT OF ROME, CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA). We are made unclean by what comes out of our lips, not by what goes into our mouth (ORIGEN, BEDE). We are called to absorb censure patiently, for one’s character cannot be inwardly sullied by external reproaches from others but only by what comes from oneself. The cycle of interpersonal bitterness is broken by forbearance (TERTULLIAN). Sin that is deliberate is more culpable (BASIL). Divine judgment penetrates human rationalizations that pretend to follow the tradition of the elders (IRENAEUS, CHRYSOSTOM, JEROME, JOHN OF DAMASCUS).

7:4 | The Pharisees, Observing the Tradition of the Elders

MARKS OF PHARISAIC LIVING

JOHN OF DAMASCUS: Pharisee is a name meaning “those who are set apart.” They followed a way of life which they regarded as most perfect. They esteemed their way as superior to others. They affirmed the resurrection of the dead, the existence of angels, and holiness of life. [1] They followed a rigorous way of life, practicing asceticism and sexual abstinence for periods of time and fasting twice a week. [2] They ceremonially cleansed their pots and plates and cups, [3] as did the scribes. They observed the paying of tithes, [4] the offering of first fruits, and the recitation of many prayers. [5] ON HERESIES 15. [6]

[1] Cf. Acts 23:8.

[2] Lk 18:12.

[3] Mk 7:4.

[4] Cf. Mt 23:23; Lk 11:42.

[5] Cf. Lk 5:33.

[6] HE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL | MARK 1:1-5

7:6 | Their Heart Is Far from Me

VERBAL RELIGION

CLEMENT OF ROME: So let us devote ourselves to those at peace in their devotion to God, and not to those who seek peace through hypocrisy. For he says in one place: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” [1] And again: “They blessed with their mouth, but they cursed in their heart.” [2] And again he says: “They flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not true to his covenant.” [3] 1 CLEMENT 15.1-4. [4]

[1] Is 29:13; Mk 7:6.

[2] Ps 62:4.

[3] Ps 78:36-37.

[4] TLG 1271.001, 15.1-4; FC 1:21**.

GOD SEES THROUGH TO OUR INWARD CONDITION

CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA: God considers our inward thoughts. Remember Lot’s wife. All she did was voluntarily to turn her head back toward worldly corruption. She was left a senseless mass, a pillar of salt. [1] STROMATEIS 2.14. [2]

[1] Cf. Gen 19:26.

[2] ANF 2:361*; TLG 0555.004, 2.14.61.4.1-5.

7:8 | You Leave the Commandment of God and Hold Fast to the Tradition of Men

MIXING WATER WITH WINE

IRENAEUS: The Pharisees claimed that the traditions of their elders safeguarded the law, but in fact it contravened the law Moses had given. By saying: Your merchants mix water with the wine, Isaiah shows that the elders mixed their watery tradition with God’s strict commandment. They enjoined an adulterated law at cross-purposes with the divine law. The Lord made this clear when he asked them: Why do you transgress God’s commandment for the sake of your tradition? By their transgression they not only falsified God’s law, mixing water with the wine, but they also set against it their own law, called to this day the Pharisaic law. In this their rabbis suppress some of the commandments, add new ones, and give others their own interpretation, thus making the law serve their own purposes. AGAINST HERESIES 4.12.1-2. [1]

[1] AHR 2:177; JF B 112*; SC 100, 508-14.

7:11 | What You Would Have Gained from Me Is Corban

THE DECEPTION EMBEDDED IN THIS LEGALISM

JEROME: The Lord himself discussed that commandment of the law which says: “Honor thy father and thy mother.” [1] He made it clear that it is to be interpreted not as mere words, which, while offering an empty show of honor to parents, might still leave them poor and their necessities unrelieved. Instead the honor of parents should focus on the actual provision of the necessities of life. The Lord commanded that poor parents should be supported by their children who would reimburse them back when they are old for all those benefits which they themselves received in childhood. The scribes and Pharisees instead were teaching children to honor their parents by saying: “It is corban, that is to say, a gift which I have promised to the altar and will present at the temple, where it will relieve you as much as if I were to give it to you directly to buy food.” [2] So it frequently happened that while father and mother were destitute, their children were offering sacrifices for the priests and scribes to consume. LETTER 123, TO AGERUCHIA. [3]

[1] Cf. Ex 20:12; Deut 5:16; Mt 15:4; 19:19; Mk 7:10; 10:19; Lk 18:20.

[2] Mk 7:11.

[3] Cetedoc 0620, 123.56.5.78.7; NPNF 2 6:231-32*. In this way religious rules were twisted to allow some to steal from poor parents through their children’s piety. So the legalistic rationalizers acquired through cunning what should have gone to poor parents.

7:12 | You No Longer Permit Him to Do Anything for His Father or Mother

CORRUPTED RELIGION

BASIL: The condemnation of those who have knowledge yet do not put their knowledge into practice is more severe. Even sin committed in ignorance is not without risk. THE MORALS 4. [1]

[1] FC 9:85*; TLG 2040.051, 31.717.38-40.

HOW MAMMON ORCHESTRATES THE POVERTY OF PARENTS

CHRYSOSTOM: Christ says, “Care for the poor”; [1] Mammon says, “Take away even those things the poor possess.” Christ says, “Empty yourself of what you have”; [2] Mammon says, “Take also what they possess.” Do you see the opposition, the strife between them? See how it is that one cannot obey both, but must reject one? … Christ says, “None of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions”; [3] Mammon says, “Take the bread from the hungry.” Christ says, “Cover the naked”; [4] the other says, “Strip the naked.” Christ says, “You shall not turn away from your own family, [5] and those of your own house”; [6] Mammon says, “You shall not show mercy to those of your own family. Though you see your mother or your father in want, despise them.” [7] HOMILIES ON PHILIPPIANS 6. [8]

[1] Cf. Mt 19:21; Mk 10:21; Lk 14:13.

[2] Cf. Mt 16:24; Mk 8:34; Lk 9:23.

[3] Lk 14:33.

[4] Cf. Mt 25:34-40; Is 58:7.

[5] Is 58:7.

[6] 1 Tim 5:8; Gal 6:10.

[7] Mk 7:11.

[8] TLG 2062.160, 62.226.32-38, 49-57; cf. NPNF 1 13:211**.

7:15 | The Things Which Come Out of a Man Are What Defile Him

THE CYCLE OF BITTERNESS BROKEN BY FORBEARANCE

TERTULLIAN: Let us, then, his servants, follow our Lord and patiently submit to denunciations that we may be blessed! If, with slight forbearance, I hear some bitter or evil remark directed against me, I may return it, and then I shall inevitably become bitter myself. Either that, or I shall be tormented by unexpressed resentment. If I retaliate when cursed, how shall I be found to have followed the teaching of our Lord? For his saying has been handed down that one is defiled not by unclean dishes but by the words which proceed from his mouth. [1] ON PATIENCE 8. [2]

[1] Mk 7:15.

[2] Cetedoc 0009, 8.15; FC 40:207*. Absorb censure patiently, for one’s character cannot be inwardly besmirched by external reproaches from others but only by what comes out of oneself.

7:19 | Thus He Declared All Foods Clean

THE MOUTH AND THE SOUL

ORIGEN: When we read in Leviticus [1] and Deuteronomy [2] of the laws about food as clean and unclean (for the transgression of which we are censured by the legalists and by the Ebionites, who differ from them very little), we are not to think that the scope of the Scripture is found in any superficial understanding of them. For “whatever goes into a person from the outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and so passes on.” [3] According to Mark, the Savior “declared all food clean,” [4] so we are not defiled when we eat those things declared to be unclean by those who still desire to be in bondage to the letter of the law. But we are then defiled when our lips, which ought to be bound with good judgment as we search for correct balance and weight, speak recklessly and discuss matters we ought not. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 11.12. [5]

[1] Cf. Lev 11.

[2] Cf. Deut 14.

[3] Cf. Mt 15:11, 17.

[4] Mk 7:19.

[5] TLG 2042.029, 11.12.4-17; ANF 9:440**.

7:23 | All These Evil Things Come from Within

EVIL WILLED

BEDE: This is an answer to those who consider that evil thoughts are simply injected by the devil and that they do not spring from our own will. He can add strength to our bad thoughts and inflame them, but he cannot originate them. EXPOSITION ON THE GOSPEL OF MARK 2.7.20-21. [1]

[1] Cetedoc 1355, 2.7.1331; CCL 120:522; GMI 163*. Evil spins out of willing, not by simple coercion by demonic powers.