Jesus on Fine ways of Rejecting Gods Commandment

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season:  Fifth Week :  Tuesday*

*Gospel :  Mark 7:1-13*

*First Reading : 1 Kings 8: 22-30*

*Responsorial Psalm : 84:3-11*

*Jesus on Fine ways of Rejecting Gods Commandment* 

*1) What “ways” is Jesus referring to in Mark 7:1–13?*

*A) Elevating human tradition above God’s command*

The immediate issue is ritual hand-washing. The Pharisees treated their traditions as if they were equal to (or greater than) God’s Law. The problem wasn’t the tradition itself—it was giving it divine authority.

Tradition became a substitute for obedience.

*B) Using religion to bypass moral responsibility (the Corban example)*

Jesus highlights a particularly disturbing practice called Corban. A person could declare their possessions “dedicated to God,” which legally excused them from using those resources to care for their parents—despite God’s clear command to honor father and mother.

This is the heart of Jesus’ critique: They sounded religious. They appeared devout. But they violated the plain will of God. Religion became a loophole for selfishness.

*C) External purity replacing inner obedience*

The focus was on what touched the hands, not what shaped the heart. Jesus exposes a faith obsessed with appearances but disconnected from love, justice, and mercy.

*2) Gods Commandment & Human Tradition* 

Gods Commandment is Rooted in God’s character. Human Tradition is  Rooted in culture or convenience

Gods Commandment is Aimed at love and life. Human Tradition is Aimed at control or identity

Gods Commandment Transforms the heart. Human Tradition Manages behavior

Jesus is not anti-tradition. He is anti-tradition that cancels God’s Word.

The deeper issue is authority: Who ultimately defines what faithfulness looks like? God’s revealed will—or religious systems built over time?

*3) Why is this significant?*

*A) It exposes religious hypocrisy*

Jesus quotes Isaiah: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”

That’s devastating—not because they don’t worship, but because their worship is empty. The danger isn’t rebellion; it’s religiosity without relationship.

*B) It protects the heart of God’s law*

God’s commandments are not arbitrary rules. They are meant to: Protect relationships, Shape love, Reflect God’s compassion

When traditions override this, faith becomes harsh instead of holy.

*C) It redefines holiness*

Holiness is not about looking clean but being faithful. Jesus shifts the center of faith from ritual performance to heart alignment.

*4) How is this applicable to our lives today?*

*A)  When church culture replaces God’s Word*

“This is how we’ve always done it”

“That’s not our tradition”

“Good Christians don’t do that”

When these ideas silence Scripture, Jesus’ warning applies.

*B) When spirituality excuses lack of love*

Examples today: Being “too busy with ministry” to care for family

Using doctrine to avoid compassion

Hiding selfish choices behind spiritual language

Like Corban, we can sound faithful while avoiding obedience.

*C) When outward faith masks inner emptiness*

Perfect attendance, but no forgiveness

Correct beliefs, but no humility

Public prayer, private hardness of heart

Jesus is asking: What kind of people is our faith making us?

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*