Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 24, 2023

Unwashed Hands and Unclean Hearts

Mark 7:1-23

1. Background

• foretaste of confrontation in Jerusalem
• from actions to teachings: the issue of purity
• source of opposition: delegation from Jerusalem (3:22)

2. The Unwashed Hands Issue 1-8

• disciples caught “dirty handed”
• parenthetical commentary
• citation (Isa. 29:13) and identification (“hypocrites”)

3. A Scathing Rebuke 9-13

• problem: elevation of the external above the internal and human tradition above Scripture
• specific example: Exodus 20:12 and “Corban”
• circumventing biblical commands

4. The Unclean Hearts Issue 14-23

• root of uncleanness: internal/moral rather than external/ritual
• from the superficial to the substantive: food never enters a man’s heart
• the perennial problem: unclean hearts (Jer. 17:9, Prov. 4:23)

5. So What?

• Because a relationship with God hinges on the heart, aim for an internal sensitivity that produces an external consistency.
• Recognize the distinction between personal preference and biblical principle.
• “Legalism is always nailing a sign to the cross that says ‘necessary, but not enough.’” (J. MacGorman)
• Mind the gap! (Eph. 3:14-21)
• “Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love…Take my heart. It is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne…” (F. Havergal, “Take My Life, and Let It Be”)