Mark Chapter 7 720WebShareName

Chapter seven begins with Pharisees questioning Jesus’ and his disciples’ practice of not “observing the tradition of the elders” by eating with defiled hands. (Mark 7:3-5) The traditions that the Pharisees accuse Jesus and his disciples of not following, comments Hahn, are non-biblical laws of an oral Mosaic law that were added to the written Mosaic law with the intention of ensuring Israelites remain holy, defined by being separated, being apart, especially from Gentiles, whom the Israelites are to isolate themselves from in the observance of these oral laws.