You have probably heard the saying, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Some people think it’s a quotation from the Bible! You know that God gave specific commands for hygiene in the Old Testament Law. He wanted His people to enjoy good health, and cleanliness was part of it. These commands are not just rules but divine wisdom that reinforces the importance of cleanliness.
However, like any good practice or habit, cleanliness can be taken to the extreme. Some people’s concern about cleanliness becomes extreme, leading to compulsive ritualized behavior. Obsessive fear of germs or dirt and the compulsion to wash their hands repeatedly are common manifestations of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It’s important to remember that balance in cleanliness is vital to our overall well-being.
Earlier this year, I was on a several-hour international flight. Across the aisle from me was a man wearing an N95 surgical mask. Of course, he had to remove the mask when a meal was served. When the meal was finished, instead of putting the mask back on, he reached into his carry-on and got a new mask, which was sealed in plastic.
Before he opened the pack, he took an antibacterial wipe and washed his thumb and forefinger on both hands. Then, he carefully opened the bag with them and placed the mask on his face. The used mask was tucked carefully in the now empty package and stowed in his carry-on luggage.
I am not criticizing him. I don’t know his circumstances or the health issues he may have. I’m just telling you what I observed. It was apparent that he was VERY concerned about germs.
Recently, I read an article from the New York Times titled “Too Clean for Our Children’s Own Good?” The article’s thesis was that our excessive cleanliness might harm our children’s immune systems in our overzealous attempts to shield them from disease and sickness. The article cited various studies supporting this possibility and noted that fear often fuels this fixation on cleanliness.
Our previous study taught us that the Pharisees were fastidious about washing. Fastidious, that’s a big word. It means being extremely or excessively careful about something. So, they found fault with Jesus’ disciples, who, according to their standards, were eating without adequately washing their hands. However, Jesus rebuked them because they were more concerned about being clean on the outside than inside. He emphasized the importance of inner purity, which should enlighten our spiritual journey.
Our text today is Mark 7:14 to 23. In these verses, Jesus clarifies to everyone that we must be more concerned about the inside than the outside dirt. So, I’ve titled my teaching “The Dirt is on the Inside.” Listen now as I read Mark 7:14 to 23.
In these verses, Jesus reveals the source of defilement. Understand, defile, and cleanse are keywords in this text.
The First Revelation is,
Flawed Understanding
I hope you noticed the emphasis on understanding as I read. Twice, Jesus invites His disciples to understand, and once, he rebukes the Twelve for their lack of understanding. Their perspective of cleanliness was defective and flawed.
Our text opens with Jesus inviting the crowd to gather around Him. He said, “Hear Me, all of you, and understand.” He issued a pointed appeal to the people to see through the deception of their religious leaders. They had bought into their rabbis’ false teachings, which affected their understanding of truth.
The Pharisees taught that defilement came from th...
