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Time after Pentecost · Proper 16 · Year B

Mark 7:1-13

What Defiles a Person

August 22, 2027

Christ among the Pharisees, Jacob Jordaens
Christ among the Pharisees, Jacob Jordaens, c. 1650The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp
Jordaens crowds the frame with heavy Flemish faces leaning in to argue, with Christ at the centre as the only still figure.You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition: the reading is this dispute about washing hands.Jacob JordaensThe leading painter in Antwerp after Rubens's death, a Protestant who went on painting Catholic altarpieces, with a taste for noisy crowds.The Phoebus Foundation, AntwerpA private Belgian foundation that collects and restores Flemish art and lends it widely rather than keeping a permanent museum.The Phoebus Foundation, Antwerp
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelMark 7:1-13Mk 7:1-13
EpistleEph. 5:22-33Eph 5:22-33
Old TestamentIsa. 29:11-19Is 29:11-19
PsalterPs. 14Ps 14

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, 21-23Commentary on Mk 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 UncleanMk 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 CommentaryMk 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 CommentariesMk 7:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentaries gathered verse by verse on the handwashing controversy.

Mark 7:1 Verse-by-Verse CommentaryMk 7:1 Verse-by-Verse Commentary StudyLight

A large library of expositors stacked verse by verse for a further preaching voice.

Mark 7 CommentaryMk 7 Commentary Precept Austin

An inductive study page collecting word studies and cross references on the chapter.

Background & Word Study

Mark 7:1 InterlinearMk 7:1 Interlinear BibleHub

The Greek of the dispute word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers, including Corban.

Gospel of Mark OverviewGospel of Mk Overview BibleProject

An animated overview of Mark that frames the growing conflict with the religious leaders.

The Church Fathers

Mark 7 (Catena)Mk 7 (Catena) Catena

Patristic comments verse by verse on the traditions of men and the commandment of God.

Art & Music

Art in the Christian Tradition Vanderbilt

A curated image index for this reading across the history of Christian art.

Study Hub

The Text This Week: Proper 16B Textweek

The Textweek hub aggregating commentary, art, and sermon links across every reading for the day.

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