Note for 20250116 - The Gospel of Jesus Christ - Part 46 - Mark 7 - From Within
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
According to Mark
Read Through The Bible
“As it Happened” Bible Reading Plan
Day 061
Numbers 16 and 17
Part 46 - Mark 7 - From Within
The Audio Version of today’s note
Mark 7:1-23 KJV
[1] Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. [2] And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. [3] For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. [4] And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. [5] Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? [6] He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, But their heart is far from me. [7] Howbeit in vain do they worship me, Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. [8] For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. [9] And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. [10] For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: [11] but ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. [12] And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; [13] making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. [14] And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: [15] there is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. [16] If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. [17] And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. [18] And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; [19] because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? [20] And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. [21] For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, [22] thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: [23] all these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
https://bible.com/bible/1/mrk.7.1-23.KJV
Note for 20250116
Surely there is no need for me to say anything? Christ laid it down perfectly in His description of the parable He spoke by. Even according to the Law, there is a difference between unclean and condemned. The unclean was sent without the camp, but the condemned was cut off from the people, even stoned to death. Do you remember when we read in John about Jesus washing the feet of His disciples? "Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all." (John 13:10 KJV) and in verse 11 we learn that He spoke of Judas, the one who betrayed Him, not being clean. It is probably better understood from a "lead-up" verse to the washing of feet, that we may understand what defiles a man.
John 13:2 KJV
And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
You see, while just the heart of it was in Judas, you can say he was unclean, but once he had given into that which was in him, then he became condemned.
Now, of course the account of the washing of feet was to do about being humble servants, that the greatest is the least, and the least the greatest; but the exchange between Peter and The Lord puts it all into perspective.
John 13:8 KJV
Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
A washing is indeed required, but look at verse 7, "Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter." We now know of the washing by the Blood of Christ, as the dust from feet, so are we cleansed by Christ. Elsewhere the Lord says, you are in this world but not of it. And further also, we learn, "Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in this world." If that which is within is defiled, then all is defiled and if not washed, then condemned. But, the flesh will remain behind, the flesh cannot enter the kingdom of GOD. It is as the dust upon the feet, if the flesh is the feet of the soul.
There should be no need for me to speak on this, for the Truth within should convince everyone. And I can only speak of that Truth that is within me, and if the Truth, and we stand in Truth, then we all say Amen together. The cleansing that is needed is for the inner man. And since the old is laid down, and the new man has come in Christ, then no more is needed than a washing of the feet, for the flesh is still walking in this world. But, what defiles a man to the point of condemnation is a defilement from within. For by the inner man, the man will be judged by GOD. If you walk in the mud, expect dirty feet, that needs just a little water to wash it clean again. But, if such darkness should reign within the heart, then all that comes from it is destined for destruction.
2 Corinthians 10:4-6 KJV
[4] (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) [5] Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; [6] And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Arrest your thoughts. Let the cleaning be done within. What threat is there to the soul of man from dirty cups, hands and feet? We are in this world, but not of it. The soul moves through this world in the flesh. And the filth of this world is like dust upon the feet, if the heart is clean by the Blood of Jesus Christ. However, as we see from the exchange between Jesus and Peter, still the feet must be washed when we come in to eat of that Heavenly Bread.
Let us look at some inward washing. Let's read a section from Romans 7.
Romans 7:13-25 KJV
[13] Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. [14] For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. [15] For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. [16] If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. [17] Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. [18] For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. [19] For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. [20] Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. [21] I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. [22] For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: [23] but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. [24] O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? [25] I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.7.13-25.KJV
Compared to this, how shall we then still spend time arguing about dirty hands, because of the customs of man? Should you wash your hands before you eat? Of course you should, for it may make you feel unwell. But the dirt within can bring the soul to condemnation.
Selah, Shalom
Verse of The Day
From the YouVersion Bible App (Expanded from verse 12)
Hosea 10:12-13 KJV
[12] Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. [13] Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
https://bible.com/bible/1/hos.10.12-13.KJV
Download
Find the entire “The Gospel of Jesus Christ” playlist at: https://on.soundcloud.com/7Ya6JcoPkzB1Bcmx7
or
Download The Stern Watch Radio App and enjoy some gospel music. The Voice recording of the daily note is played every evening at 20h00 (GMT+2) and scheduled as Breakfast Quiet Time with Mom. On most devices, all relevant links to other platforms and contact information is available.
Follow this link:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.sternwatch&hl=en-US
Comments
Post a Comment
All comments are moderated for the sake of younger and sensitive readers. For debates, please request Discord Server details.