Wash Your Hands and Your Idol Too
This week, our study in the Gospel of Mark continues with Jesus’ answer to the scribes’ and Pharisees’ inquiry concerning His and His disciples’ habit of ignoring the opinions of the revered elders of Israel. Jesus never disobeyed any of God’s commands, but He was not averse to disobeying any and every command meant to obfuscate God’s law.
Because of Jesus intense popularity, He posed a threat to the authority of these elders and their monopoly on the spiritual control of daily life in Galilee and Judea. It was not unusual to see violations of their customs as if every person cared what the spiritual leaders in Israel thought. Just as there is a segment of our population (a rather large one) that does not care for religion, the same types to a lesser degree lived in Israel. Matthew was such a Jew who before following Jesus cared nothing for the rules and regulations imposed by the sanctimonious religious police force. Men like Matthew were not much of a threat to the system because they had influence only with friends and a few other rogues like them. Jesus was more like a nuclear threat with His supernatural abilities and the attention of nearly everyone from the poor to Roman government officials. His wisdom in how to answer puzzling questions coupled with superior understanding of the scriptures, enabled Him to thoroughly refute and humiliate these supposed experts in Jewish law.
The question on this occasion pertained to the custom of washing hands before eating. As I explained in an earlier message, their concern was not good sanitation habits, but rather sanctification by their perfect obedience to outward forms of religion. The Jews’ entire religious system centered on rigid self-righteousness that they believed gave them access to the inheritance of God. If this means was truly the way to reach God, His holiness is nothing higher than the level of mortal men. A god reached by self-effort is not worth the effort to make the connection. We are no better off than if we worshipped each other.
Though this is true and clearly defies the God of scripture, still it is the default position of most people who say they are Christians. The idol artist who makes his god of wood or stone and carries his idol to wherever he needs it, is far more powerful than his creation who does not speak, hear, perceive, act, or do anything the idol’s creator can do.
The Jews in Jesus’ time prided themselves in the rejection of heathen idols. Since the end of the divided kingdom five hundred years before the New Testament era, Israel was under foreign occupation, a consequence of their forefathers’ disobedience to the warnings of the prophets. To restore Israel to God’s favor, they long ago laid their idols aside and resumed their observance of the ceremonial laws. However, for every form resumed, there was a corresponding perversion. For example, the priests at the temple made sacrifices as the law commanded, but they also owned the sacrificial animals which they sold to the people at exorbitant prices. Having the authority to inspect and refuse any animals not sold by them, they controlled the market amassing great wealth in the process.
Now, the purpose of our brief foray into this history comes to its conclusion. Jesus’ unraveling any of the fabricated laws of the elders had the potential of destroying the wicked schemes that made these religious charlatans rich. Thus, there is a delegation sent to Galilee to intervene before Jesus did irreparable harm. As we all know now, crucifixion was their final solution. They killed the man, but His resurrection ensured He will never cease to plague manmade religion. If this religion is yours, when you wash your hands, do not forget to wash your idol too.
Pastor V. Mark Smith