Episode Details

Introduction

Are there “good” foods and “bad” foods? Can we heap condemnation upon ourselves by virtue of the foods and substances we ingest?

This is an important question; because we live in a society that on the one hand tells us that we shouldn’t judge others, and on the other hand heaps up messages of judgment - often related to this very subject. Is it organic? Sustainably produced? Can you pronounce the ingredients? Is it low carb, low fat, low flavor?

Food is more than fuel, both culturally and biblically. It’s more than the caloric sum of protein, carbs, and fat. Food is symbolic: it symbolizes joy and friendship. Acceptance to the table is a big deal. Boundaries are often drawn around food. If I welcome you to my table that’s an extension of hospitality and friendship, at the very least. At a deeper level there is a sense of identifying with those people with whom we break-bread together. This is part of why it was scandalous to the Pharisees and chief priests that Jesus would share a table with tax collectors and sinners. Food matters.

Setting

The setting of our text today is a continuation of what Ryan Aguilar two weeks ago, Mark 7:1-13. To refresh you on that passage, the Jews had elaborate traditions around hand-washing: just like your grandmother, they believed that cleanliness was next to godliness. There are, of course, a large number of ceremonial washings prescribed in the Old Testament. But this tradition had gone far beyond that, to the point that if they had visited the marketplace (where they may have encountered less-serious Jews, or, God-forbid, gentiles) they had to baptize their hands in order to remove the possible stain of association. 

A number of scribes from Jerusalem joined with the local Pharisees (we don’t know where exactly Jesus is at this point), and noticed that Jesus’ disciples didn’t observe the tradition; and they wanted to know what gives. What kind of religious people are you and your disciples, anyway, Jesus? Why, I just saw Peter light up a cigarette in the parking lot! 

Jesus proceeds to put these religious hypocrites in their place: in verses 6-7 he quotes the prophet Isaiah, and then ties the bow in verse eight with his own summary:

                  “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, 

      but their heart is far from me; 

            7       in vain do they worship me, 

      teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 

8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” 

He then gives the specific example of “corban”, whereby some Jews would “devote their goods to the Lord” - usually to take effect after their death, but it provided a nice lifelong excuse to not have to help their family members out when it was needed - in doing so the held fast to their traditions while ignoring the specific commands of God: in this case, the duty to honor your father and mother. 

The overall point Jesus made in these verses is that religious observance in itself is of no value. A heart that loves keeping the law for the sake of stroking one’s own ego is the opposite of what God wants. I put a question and answer from the New City Catechism in the bulletin each week, and the one from the week before last was question #33: “Should those who have faith in Christ seek their salvation through their own works, or anywhere else?”

The kids learn an abbreviated answer: “No, everything necessary to salvation is found in Christ.” The full answer fleshes that out a little more: “No, they should not, as everything necessary to salvation is found in Christ. To seek salvation through good works is a denial that Christ is the only Redeemer and Savior.”

Traditions can be good. Rules have a place. God gave many laws; and they were (and are) good. But the moment you start making religious rules and traditio