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They don`t eat when they come from the marketplace, unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things, which they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and couches.)
Verse Takeaways
1
Ritual Purity, Not Hygiene
Commentators explain that the extensive washing rituals described were not about physical cleanliness. They were part of the 'tradition of the elders,' designed to maintain ceremonial purity by removing any potential defilement from contact with Gentiles or non-observant Jews in the marketplace. This focus on external, man-made rules is what Jesus will challenge.
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Mark
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6
18th Century
Presbyterian
Market. This word means either the place where provisions were sold, or the place where people were gathered for any purpose. In this cont…
From the marketplace (απ' αγορας). Ceremonial defilement was inevitable in the mixing with men in public. This αγορα from αγειρω t…
19th Century
Anglican
Except they wash.—The Greek verb differs from that in the previous verse and implies the washing or immersion (the verb f…
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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…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
And when they come from the market In Beza's most ancient copy, and in one of Stephens', it is read as we supply, "w…
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…
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