Slices
Prepare
Are you a natural rule-keeper or do you find rules irksome?
Bible passage
That which defiles
7 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered round Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the market-place they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)
5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, ‘Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?’
6 He replied, ‘Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
‘“These people honour me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
7 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.”
8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.’
Explore
A recent podcast compared hand-washing dishes with using a dishwasher. Which is more environmentally friendly, more effective, more costly, more convenient? The dishwasher won on all counts, but with conditions. It depends on washing on a longer wash but lower temperature, rinsing dirty plates in water first and only running a programme when full. I wasn’t convinced! Who knows best?
In general, according to the Old Testament, the only specific washing instructions were for priests in their priestly duties (Exodus 30:19–21). Everyone else only became understandably unclean if, for example, they touched some form of bodily fluids (Leviticus 15:11). However, in Jesus’ time, many of the Jewish authorities are less concerned with matters of hygiene than they are about ritual purity to maintain a distinctiveness from Gentiles and certain Jewish sects.
The Pharisees live with complicated cleanliness rules, which Jesus often breaks, about mixing with tax collectors (2:14) and Gentiles (5:1) – even touching corpses (5:41). Don’t you love how he defends his disciples? Being God, he isn’t bound by ‘the tradition of the elders’ (v 3). He authoritatively interprets the prophet Isaiah’s words, calling out empty worship. He invites people to abide by the rules of the kingdom of God.
Respond
What attitudes in society do you currently struggle to understand in the light of the rule of God? Pray about that now.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Ezra 5,6; Psalm 77
Pray for Scripture Union
Thank God for the opportunities that It’s Your Move provides for making connections with schools and for helping pupils as they transition to secondary school. Pray that, as churches and Mission Partners take copies into schools and do presentations, many Year 6 children will see the difference that Jesus can make.
