It took a year to read the Bible, then almost 9 months to read the Apocrypha. Now, I'm going to try to offer reflections on the Narrative Lectionary. But, I won't be posting daily--at least, for a while.

Monday, August 27, 2012

More Defiling than Dirt, a Reflection on Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

If you were asked to choose between these two statements, how would you answer?
First, this passage demonstrates that Jesus taught that Jews were wrong to focus on the law. Second, Jesus says that anything goes.

The correct answer is: neither of the above.

Jesus is not maligning the Pharisees for attempting to follow the law. He is saying that they aren't following it. That is, they are neglecting the reason that God gave us the law anyway--to help us to live in community and to worship the Lord.

It's not a Jew/Christian thing. Look, Jesus is quoting the prophet Isaiah to help make his point.

Jesus is saying to those who hold themselves out to be religiously scrupulous, "What you are calling a sin is not all that important. If you want to get in line with what God intends then you need to refrain from things like adultery, greed, envy, slander.

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