The Pharisees and Scribes had just condemned Him and His disciples for not practicing ceremonial washing of hands prior to eating their food. The presumption they asserted was if one did not practice this ceremonial washing, which was not for sanitary purposes, but spiritual purposes, then they would be spiritually unclean. Jesus was responding to that false ritual as having no spiritual benefit to one’s soul whatsoever. He simply told the crowd that there is nothing from without a man that entering into him can defile him. This was contrary to the Pharisees teaching regarding the spiritual benefit of ceremonies. There is no benefit to the spiritual condition of mankind by following any ceremonies. In fact God has condemned this vigorously in the past (Isaiah 1:11; 66:3; 1Samuel 15:22; Psalms 50:8; Psalms 51:16; Proverbs 15:8; Proverbs 21:27; Jeremiah 6:20; Jeremiah 7:21; Amos 5:21; Micah 6:7; Matthew 9:13). This is all done through a conscious decision to accept the gift of Jesus’ Substitionary atonement and obey God.
Featuring a sermon puts it on the front page of the site and is the most effective way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands including all mobile platforms + newsletter.
Text-Featuring a sermon is a less expensive way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands on the right bar with optional newsletter inclusion. As low as $30/day.
