Welcome to episode 56 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we continue our study in the Book of Mark, covering chapter 7:1-23.  The series is called “Get in, buckle up, and hold on!”  Today, we discuss: 

• The reason for the message (vv. 1-5) 
• The prophecy (vv. 6-8) 
• The parental example (vv. 9-13) 
• The preaching (vv. 14-23) 

Key takeaways: 

• For the first time, Mark takes up the issue of ritual purity.  This issue was an important one in the early church as Jews wrestled with how Gentiles should comply with Old Testament purity laws. 
• Jesus’ message regarding eating unclean foods was a difficult one for the Jews to understand.  He was trying to get them to see the spirit of the law regarding what actually makes a person unclean. 
• Neither the eating of an unclean animal nor the eating of approved food with unwashed hands can defile a person.  Food cannot defile a person because it never comes in contact with the “heart”, the inner life of a person. 
• Jesus himself taught the doctrine of depravity—that every area of life is tainted with sin, which originates in man’s heart. 
• When we have a defective theology of sin, we treat symptoms with legalism, rather than dealing with the root cause. 

Quotable: 

• External observance is no substitute for inward piety 

Application: 

• We need to exercise caution when evaluating what is tradition verses what Scripture says, because the latter ALWAYS trumps the former. 
• If we are not careful, we can become experts at traditionalism while not allowing Scripture to transform our hearts and minds. 
• True defilement comes from within the human heart.  Evil that comes out of a person’s heart, mind, or will makes the person unclean. 
• Ask your average person on the street if he/she is a “good” person, and the reply will most likely be “yes.”  But the list of attitudes and behaviors Jesus specifies in verses 20-23 indicate otherwise.  This is why the gospel is “good news.” 
• Uncleanness is moral rather than ritual. 
• There is no power in the world which can make a bad heart good. Only the gospel can do that. 

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