In Mark 7, Jesus confronts religious leaders who prioritized external rituals over heart transformation. When criticized about His disciples' unwashed hands, Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of elevating human traditions above God's commands. He teaches that true defilement comes not from external things but from within the human heart. Jesus emphasizes that authentic worship flows from a transformed heart, not ritualistic observance. This revolutionary teaching declared all foods clean and established that God is concerned primarily with our inner condition rather than outward appearances. True religion requires heart transformation that only God can provide through the gospel.