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1
Tradition, Not Scripture
Commentators stress that the ceremonial hand-washing was a 'tradition of the elders,' not a command from God's written law. Scholars note that Jewish sources themselves identified these rules as originating from scribes, not Scripture. This establishes the core conflict: Jesus's disciples were being judged by human standards, not divine ones.
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Mark
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Commentaries
6
Albert Barnes
On Mark 7:3
18th Century
Theologian
Except they wash their hands oft. The word oft means frequently, often. The word translated oft has been rendered in var…
AT Robertson
On Mark 7:3
Diligently (πυγμη). Instrumental case,
with the fist , up to the elbow, rubbing one hand and arm with the …
Charles Ellicott
On Mark 7:3
19th Century
Bishop
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews.—For the sake of the same class of readers, St. Mark adds another explanatory note. T…
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Expositor's Bible Commentary
On Mark 7:3
Mark felt it necessary to explain to his Gentile readers the Jewish custom of ceremonial handwashing, a custom based on the “tradition [GK 4142] of…
John Gill
On Mark 7:3
17th Century
Pastor
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews
The far greater part of them; all, excepting the Sadducees; and especially the P…
Matthew Henry
On Mark 7:1–13
17th Century
Minister
One great design of Christ's coming was to set aside the ceremonial law; and to make way for this, he rejects the ceremonies men added to the law o…