Time after Pentecost · Proper 16 · Year B
Mark 7:1-13
What Defiles a Person
August 22, 2027

Overview & Insights
"This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." (Mark 7:6)
When Pharisees fault the disciples for eating with unwashed hands, Jesus rebukes human traditions that displace God's commandment and teaches that defilement comes not from outside but from the evil that arises within the heart.
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Commentary
Commentary on Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Working Preacher
The Lutheran home voice on the tradition dispute by a named seminary scholar, covering the opening of the reading.
Mark 7 - Clean and Unclean Enduring Word · David Guzik
A verse-by-verse study of the clash over the tradition of the elders.
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary on tradition versus the heart of the law.
Mark 7:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentaries gathered verse by verse on the handwashing controversy.
Mark 7:1 Verse-by-Verse Commentary StudyLight
A large library of expositors stacked verse by verse for a further preaching voice.
Mark 7 Commentary Precept Austin
An inductive study page collecting word studies and cross references on the chapter.
Background & Word Study
Mark 7:1 Interlinear BibleHub
The Greek of the dispute word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers, including Corban.
Enter the Bible: Mark Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary's book introduction to Mark for the setting of the controversy narratives.
Gospel of Mark Overview BibleProject
An animated overview of Mark that frames the growing conflict with the religious leaders.
The Church Fathers
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