Mark 7: Human traditions are valid when based on God's commandments
Mark 7: Human traditions are valid when based on God's commandments
8 "You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions."
27 Jesus told her, "First let the children eat all they want, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs."
28 "Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs."
The Pharisees pointed out that Jesus' disciples were not following the traditions of the elders by eating food with unwashed hands. Jesus suggested reconsidering the spirit contained in the elders' traditions. The various traditions handed down by the elders were built upon a correct relationship with God. Jesus exposed the reality of the elders' traditions that had lost their foundation and revealed the hypocrisy of those who were challenging Him.
The issue of hypocrisy is not only present in the tradition of washing hands but also fundamentally operates in the realm of faith. The editor of Mark contrasts the faith of the Syrophoenician woman with the traditions of the elders. Spatially, Mark 7 can be divided into Jewish regions and Gentile regions. Here, the revolutionary nature of the editor of Mark is revealed. The Jewish region, represented by the traditions of the elders, seems to fall short in faith compared to the Gentile region represented by the Syrophoenician woman. The editor boldly expands the boundaries of God's presence through the image of Jesus, who moves freely between Jewish and Gentile cities.
Furthermore, the editor breaks down the elders' doctrines, which divided God's children and dogs, through the fundamental question of the priority between God's commandments and human traditions. The Syrophoenician woman's statement that "even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the children’s table" sharply reveals that there should be no discrimination in who receives God's grace. Jesus, a Jew, could not deny the truth in the words of the Gentile Syrophoenician woman that human traditions must be based on God's commandments. Thus, the demon that was strangling with the noose of human traditions had to leave.
8 "You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions."
27 Jesus told her, "First let the children eat all they want, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs."
28 "Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs."
The Pharisees pointed out that Jesus' disciples were not following the traditions of the elders by eating food with unwashed hands. Jesus suggested reconsidering the spirit contained in the elders' traditions. The various traditions handed down by the elders were built upon a correct relationship with God. Jesus exposed the reality of the elders' traditions that had lost their foundation and revealed the hypocrisy of those who were challenging Him.
The issue of hypocrisy is not only present in the tradition of washing hands but also fundamentally operates in the realm of faith. The editor of Mark contrasts the faith of the Syrophoenician woman with the traditions of the elders. Spatially, Mark 7 can be divided into Jewish regions and Gentile regions. Here, the revolutionary nature of the editor of Mark is revealed. The Jewish region, represented by the traditions of the elders, seems to fall short in faith compared to the Gentile region represented by the Syrophoenician woman. The editor boldly expands the boundaries of God's presence through the image of Jesus, who moves freely between Jewish and Gentile cities.
Furthermore, the editor breaks down the elders' doctrines, which divided God's children and dogs, through the fundamental question of the priority between God's commandments and human traditions. The Syrophoenician woman's statement that "even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the children’s table" sharply reveals that there should be no discrimination in who receives God's grace. Jesus, a Jew, could not deny the truth in the words of the Gentile Syrophoenician woman that human traditions must be based on God's commandments. Thus, the demon that was strangling with the noose of human traditions had to leave.