Albert Barnes Commentary Mark 7

Came from Jerusalem. Probably to observe his conduct, and to find matter of accusation against him.

Defiled hands. The hands were considered defiled, or polluted, unless they were washed before every meal.

Except they wash their hands oft. The word oft means frequently, often. The word translated oft has been rendered in various ways. Some have interpreted it as "up to the wrist," so the meaning would be, "unless they wash their hands up to the wrist." Others have interpreted it as "up to the elbow."

There is evidence that the Pharisees had some such foolish rule about washing, and it is likely that they practiced it faithfully. But the word probably means, diligently, accurately, carefully. So the meaning would be, "unless they wash their hands carefully, or according to rule," etc.

The tradition. This refers to what had been handed down—not what was delivered by writing in the law of Moses, but what had been communicated from father to son as proper and binding.

The elders. This refers to the ancients—not the old men living at that time, but those who had lived formerly.

Market. This word means either the place where provisions were sold, or the place where people were gathered for any purpose. In this context, it probably means the former.

Except they wash. In the original, "Except they baptize." In this passage, it does not mean to immerse the whole body, but the hands only. There is no evidence that the Jews washed their whole bodies every time they came from the market. It is probable they washed as a mere ceremony, and often, doubtless, with the use of a very small quantity of water.

The washing of cups. In the Greek, the baptism of cups.

Cups. Drinking vessels. Those used at their meals.

Pots. Measures of liquids. Vessels made of wood, used to hold wine, vinegar, etc.

Brass vessels. Vessels made of brass, used in cooking or otherwise. These, if much polluted, were commonly passed through the fire; if slightly polluted, they were washed. Earthen vessels, if defiled, were usually broken.

Tables. This word means, in the original, beds or couches. It refers not to the tables on which they ate, but to the couches on which they reclined at their meals (see Barnes on Matthew 23:6).

These couches were supposed to be defiled when any unclean or polluted person had reclined on them, and the Jews deemed it necessary to purify them with water. The word baptism is used here—in the original, the baptism of tables—but as it cannot be supposed that couches were entirely immersed in water, the word baptism here must denote some other application of water, by sprinkling or otherwise. This shows that the term is used in the sense of washing in any way. If the word here is used, as is clear, to denote anything except entire immersion, it may be used similarly elsewhere, and baptism is lawfully performed without immersing the whole body in water.

For doctrines: for commands of God binding on the conscience, imposing your traditions as equal in authority to the commands of God.