What Defiles: Mark 7:1-23

The Pharisees had traveled from Jerusalem, and they came with eyes sharpened for violations. They found one quickly: Jesus' disciples eating with unwashed hands.

Not hygiene—ritual. The tradition of the elders demanded ceremonial washing before meals, a specific number of pourings, a precise technique. Cups, pitchers, kettles—all required purification. The rules were endless, and the disciples had ignored them.

"Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?"

Jesus' response was not diplomatic.