READING 15

  1. Read the headings in Mark 7:1-23.

  2. Highlight verses 8, 9, and 15 of chapter 7.

  3. Read Mark 7:1-23.

  4. Consider the following questions.

How is Jesus' quotation of the passage from Isaiah 29:13 particularly relevant? How do people honor God just with their lips? How with their hearts? (Note also what Jesus says in 7:18-19.)


Are there any examples you can think of today where you have "abandoned the commandment of God and hold to human tradition"? (7:8)



FYI: Verses 14-19 are very important within the development of the early Christian church. To learn more about how the issue of eating clean and unclean food was resolved, read Acts 10:1-11:15.


What sort of things make you feel "unclean"? What do you do to make yourself feel "clean" again? How might Jesus' saying in 7:15 be comforting to someone who has been abused or raped or physically threatened?