Jesus had a bit of a difficult time in teaching this matter. Perhaps it was because of the deep and well-entrenched disposition especially of the religious teachers of Israel to be concerned about mere fulfillment of requirements. Moreover, they tended to create even more obligations for the average Jew to fulfill. Today's gospel is one case in point. The controversy was about washing of hands--and other implements, for that matter--before eating. They had observed that the followers of Jesus were not concerned about this human tradition of the elders of Israel. They were so focused on this that they neglected the deeper dispositions God looked for in our deeds. That attitude was their inner and deeper intentions in why they did things. Hence, Jesus called them out: they were limited to external actions in following such traditions. Their hearts were far from God as they performed those actions.
