Be aware of traditions that defile us, Mark 7:14-23, February 12, 2020 by Corky

Dia Dhuit ( Hello in Irish),

Greetings from the Island of Ireland to you all who come across this page.

God’s Word of instruction comes to us today from the Gospel account of Mark. We find ourselves in Chapter 7: particularly verses 14 to 23, but dipping back into the earlier passages of the Chapter in order to give us context and background to the Words of Christ Jesus.

When He ( Jesus) called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, ” Hear Me, everyone and understand”: 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. If anyone has ears let him hear!.

When they had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. So He said to them, ” Are you too without understanding? Do you not perceive that what enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods? And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man”

If you are still reading this. Jesus issues a command, Hear Him and understand. Why? Who else could we be listing to? We read in the above account that after Jesus had issued that command to the masses, that in private, his Disciples, his Apprentices , this band of Brothers that He had collected on the road, the ones that were with Him every day, were unsure of the meaning of His words. Are we?

Let us get alone today with Jesus and if we are unsure, read His words. Let His Holy Spirit illuminate His words. Jesus went onto explain to his Apprentices gathered round him, that Living that pleases God, comes from within, not outside. Right living with God has always been a matter of the Heart, a right relationship with God through faith. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father is not based on our Behaviour or performance, but these things do reflect our living out of Truth that we receive from Him.

What do we make of this Jesus that we come face to face within this passage? Earlier in This Chapter 7 of John Marks’s account, He, Jesus, calls people, hypocrites, actors! He accuses people of upholding the practices and traditions of men, before God!

The traditions of men. What shape could they take in our lives today? A reliance on Philosophy ? Popular Teaching? A Jesus of our own making maybe? I don’t know. What I am thinking is when Jesus issues us the command to listen and hear Him, is it because He knows that there are competing voices today, that would lead us to the traditions of men, instead of the commands of God?

I witness today in my own culture here, a tendency to pursue and propagate the easy way, as opposed to the Right way. There is a cost, The teaching of Jesus is not popular. If we are His Apprentices today, as we read the Chief Shepherds words to us, are we upholding the traditions of God over that of men.? Is it possible that the Heart attitudes and behaviors listed by Jesus at the top of this passage can come about as a result indirectly of being snatched away by the traditions of men, or the popular stance or teaching, or position over what God says!

Brothers & Sisters, if your still here, I am a fellow apprentice, a pilgrim just like you. The photo I have added to this today is of Bread in my kitchen if you observe in the photo there is a representation of physical bread and of Spiritual bread.

This is in line with a quote from our very own Marc Billing, borrowed no doubt, but passed onto me on the start of my journey with God’s Squad CMC, ” I am just a beggar, showing other beggars, where to find bread”.

May we Glorify today the provider of that Bread and be on watch for the traditions of Men in this year 2020.

Slainte ( Good Health)

Corky _ Pilgrim Chapter, Ireland