The Gospel of MarkSample

Today we will look closer at verses 6-9. Jesus sternly responds to the questioning about his

disciples from the Pharisees and scribes. He goes as far as to call them hypocrites. The word

‘hypocrite’ in the ancient Greek language referred to “an actor” or “someone who wears a

mask.” The heart of what He is trying to highlight is that ‘they honor God with their lips, but their

hearts are far from God.’ They cared more about the image they promoted than who they

actually were.

In verses 10-13, we see a very practical example of other ways they acted in this way.

The Pharisees cared so much more about a good thing, versus the best thing, that it actually

pushed them further away from God (very literally Jesus) and his people. They held in such high

regard these traditions, that it led them to act superior and outcast anyone that did not uphold

these same traditions.

Q: How can we make sure we don’t miss the very working of God’s kingdom and inviting

others into it, by getting stuck in the rules we believe qualify us to do so?