Pentecost Season · Proper 17 · Year B
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
What Defiles a Person
August 29, 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
Working Preacher: Commentary on Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Working Preacher
Lutheran lectionary commentary on tradition and the heart for Year B, Proper 17.
Enduring Word: Mark 7 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical notes on the whole chapter.
Precept Austin: Mark 7 Commentary Precept Austin
Deep study page gathering many conservative commentators on Mark 7.
CEP: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed preaching commentary on human tradition and inner defilement.
BibleHub: Commentaries on Mark 7:1 BibleHub
Parallel classic commentaries keyed to the dispute over washing hands.
Background & Word Study
Enter the Bible: Mark Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary's scholarly introduction to Mark's structure and themes.
BibleProject: Gospel of Mark Overview BibleProject
Animated overview of the message and structure of Mark's Gospel.
BibleHub: Mark 7 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek-English interlinear for word-level study of Mark 7.
Worship & Prayers
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