This coming week, I’m preaching from Mark 7:1–23. I value any (constructive) pertinent insights, questions, thoughts or opinions that you have regarding the main point or core message of the passage I am working on for this coming Sunday. Please feel free to interact with one or more of the following questions. Thanks your involvement is appreciated!
In your opinion does this passage push back against any of these current ways of seeing, understanding and living in this world?
- “I” am the center of the universe
- I am what I own
- My nation is God’s nation
- We can’t know what is universally good.
- All that matters is matter.
- We are gods
- All that matters is what my small group thinks.
- I can come to my full human potential through inner exploration.
- The Gospel can be reduced to improvements in behavior.
- The extreme adherence to tradition, especially in cultural or religious practice for personal or corporate salvation. Example: Holding faith in ONLY a system where all knowledge is derived from an original divine revelation and is transmitted by tradition.
In your opinion what was Mark 7:1-23 saying THEN?
In your opinion what is Mark 7:1-23 saying NOW?
- What does this point mean for the non-Christian?
- What does it mean for us as citizens, as employees, and so forth?
- What does it teach us about Christ?
- What does it mean for us as individual Christians?
- What does it mean for our church as a whole?
Here are a few initial thoughts to get the conversation started…
In your opinion does this passage push back against any of these current ways of seeing, understanding and living in this world?
Absolutely. I think Jesus’ words here are extremely counter-cultural and absolutely undermine some of the basic assumptions that self-righteousness holds. And he also points out how there are certain activities that are clearly “defiling” (cf. Mark 7:21-23).
In your opinion what was Mark 7:1-23 saying THEN?
Lately, as you’ve probably seen, I’ve been asking questions related to ethics and morality. I think Jesus is clearly talking about morality within this text, especially within the cultural framework of 1st century Israel. I think it’s important to note that the Pharisees and Scribes already had their mind made up about Jesus and weren’t really interested in discovering for themselves whether or not his message and works were of God.
At the end of the day, the kind of “big idea” in part of this text is summarized by Jesus’ quote of Isaiah 29:13…. their hearts were far from God.
What does this point mean for the non-Christian?
I think that this text and a discussion surround it can raise questions about ethics and morality and how one determines what is moral as well as a discussion on how morality, from a Christian perspective, begins on the “inside” (the heart).
What does it mean for us as citizens, as employees, and so forth?
Hmmm. I guess I’d want to know exactly what you mean by this question. Citizens of the kingdom or citizens of a nation on planet earth?
What does it teach us about Christ?
Jesus cares a lot about what is inside because that overflows on the outside. I think we also see Jesus taking a strong stand against “traditions” that reject God (Mark 7:9). It’s safe to say that he’s pretty pissed about that.
What does it mean for us as individual Christians?
Guard your heart! Invest into your inner person. Pray more! Spend time in Scripture! Gosh, I think there’s a lot of things that this text makes me want to do. In fact, I’m almost inclined to preach on it this Sunday too. Hmmmm
What does it mean for our church as a whole?
See above?
Hey Luke thanks for the response!
Luke you said… “Absolutely. I think Jesus’ words here are extremely counter-cultural and absolutely undermine some of the basic assumptions that self-righteousness holds. And he also points out how there are certain activities that are clearly “defiling” (cf.
Mark 7:21-23).”
>>>Luke would you say that Jesus is saying these things… 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” Mark 7:21–23 (ESV)… are things one should avoid or are these things examples of how pervasive moral impurity
is and its source? I understand that we SHOULD avoid these things but reality proves otherwise. Is he saying the activities are defiling or the heart that produces them?
You said…
“I think Jesus is clearly talking about morality within this text, especially within the cultural framework of 1st century Israel. I think it’s important to note that the Pharisees and Scribes already had their mind made up about Jesus and weren’t really interested in discovering for themselves whether or not his message and works were of God. At the end of the day, the kind of “big idea” in part of this text is summarized by Jesus’ quote of Isaiah 29:13…. their hearts were far from God.”
>>>So is Jesus saying that it is immoral to do those things (which it most
certainly is) or could he be saying it is immoral (in this context) to think
that one can cleanse themselves of these things through dead religious
tradition? Or using your words their hearts were far from God because they thought the problem of morality was extrinsic.