Day 4 – Month 5 – 4th
Wednesday July 30th, 2025
The Gospel According to Marqus 7 (KJV-YS)
Introduction:
The seventh chapter of the Besorah of Marqus is still in the areas surrounding Galilee, in the lands of the lost sheep of the house of Yashar’el and begins with Yahusha being attacked by the Pharisees and certain of the scribes for His talmidiym not washing their hands hands before eating and therefore defiling themselves according to the traditions of their elders. They then ask Him why His talmidiym don’t walk according to the traditions of the elders and Yahusha tells them they are fulfilling the prophesies of Yesha’yahu by honouring Him their lips but their heart is far from Him and how they worship in vain, teaching the doctrines of men and laying aside the commandments of Elohiym. Yahusha then calls all the people to Him and tells them to listen to what He says and understand that it is not what goes into a person that defiles them but that what comes out of a person’s heart, their fruit, that defiles them and then He lists the things that come out of person that defiles them. The rest of chapter seven details the healing of a woman’s daughter who was from the other nations and the healing of a man that was both deaf and mute.
Marqus 7: 1–23 – The Traditions of Men Verses the Commandments of Yahuah
Verses 1-13: The Traditions of the Elders
Insights: The Pharisees and scribes from Yerushalayim accuse Yahusha and His talmidiym of not keeping the traditions of the elders. This account shows how the religious leaders of the Yahudiym had added things above and beyond what is commanded in the Torah and this account is one of the single most damaging misinterpretations of Yahusha Ha’Mashiach’s teachings that “christians” use to say that the some commandments of the Torah have been done away with and therefore taking away from the Torah.
“1. Then came together unto Him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Yerushalayim. 2. And when they saw some of his talmidiym (disciples) eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. 3. For the Pharisees, and all the Yahudiym (Jews), except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. 4. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. 5. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, Why walk not Thy talmidiym according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? 6.He answered and said unto them, Well hath Yesha’yahu prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. 7. Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8. For laying aside the commandment of Elohiym, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9. And He said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of Elohiym, that ye may keep your own tradition. 10. For Mosheh said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11. But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Qorban, that is to say, an offering to Elohiym, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13. Making the Word of Elohiym of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”
Cross References Verses 1-13:
v2. – Ma’asiym (Acts) 10:28 –“And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Yahudiym to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but Elohiym hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.”
v3. – 1st Kepha (Peter) 1:18 – “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;”
Qolasiym (Colossians) 2:8 – “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after dthe tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Mashiach.”
v4. – Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 4:14 –“O Yerushalayim, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?”
Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 1:16 –“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes; cease to do evil;”
v.5 – Devariym (Deuteronomy) 4:2 – “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of Yahuah Elohaykem which I command you.”
Romaiym (Romans) 4:12 –“And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Avraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.”
v6. – Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 29:13 –“Wherefore Yahuah said, Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the precept of men:”
Titus (Titus) 1:16 – “They profess that they know Elohiym; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”
v7. – Devariym (Deuteronomy) 12:32 – “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.”
Ya’aqov (James) 2:19-20 –“Thou believest that there is one Elohiym; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”
v8. – Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 1:11-12 –“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto Me? saith Yahuah: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before Me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread My courts?”
v9. – Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 24:5 –“The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the Torah, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.”
Tehilliym (Psalms) 119:126-127 –“It is time for Thee, Yahuah, to work: for they have made void Thy Torah. Therefore I love Thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.”
Romaiym (Romans) 3:31 – “Do we then make void the Torah through faith? Elohiym forbid: yea, we establish the Torah.”
Titus (Titus) 1:14 – “Not giving heed to Yahudic (Jewish) fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the Truth.”
v10. – Devariym (Deuteronomy) 27:16 – “Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.”
Shemoth (Exodus) 20:12 – “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which Yahuah Elohayka giveth thee.”
v11. – Devariym (Deuteronomy) 23:23 – “That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto Yahuah Elohayka, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.”
Mattithyahu (Matthew) 23:18 – “And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.”
v12. – Shemoth (Exodus) 21:17 – “And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.”
v13. – Husha (Hosea) 8:12 – “I have written to him the great things of My Torah, but they were counted as a strange thing.”
Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 8:20 –“To the Torah and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
Mattithyahu (Matthew) 5:17 – “Think not that I am come to destroy the Torah, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”
Reflection: The Pharisees, just as people today, loved to keep their traditions and they were prideful in the integrity of their traditions. The scriptures are full of people who place themselves and their vain pursuits above the commandments of Father Yahuah and His Son Mashiach Yahusha. We can see in the cross references how people say they know and love Elohiym but the fruit they produce says otherwise and that we are commanded repeatedly to obey the commandments, not just in word only, by fulfilling them in our walk with the Great Shepherd Yahusha.
Verses 14-23: The Heart Defiles a Man
Insights: Yahusha calls the people, Pharisees and scribes included, and explains to them the true meaning of defilement (not to be confused with clean and unclean) and what it is that actually defiles a person is the fruit that comes out of them. His talmidiym then ask Him privately what this parable means and He explains it to them in detail.
“14. And when He had called all the people unto Him, He said unto them, Hearken unto Me every one of you, and understand: 15. There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. 16. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. 17. And when He was entered into the house from the people, His talmidiym asked Him concerning the parable. 18. And He saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19. Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all food? 20. And He said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22. Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
Cross References Verses 14-23:
v14. – Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 6:9 –“And He said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.”
v15. – Mattithyahu (Matthew) 6:21 – “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Luqas (Luke) 6:45 – “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”
Ivriym (Hebrews) 13:9-10 – “Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with foods (meats – KJV), which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.”
v17. – Mattithyahu (Matthew) 7:7-8 – “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
v18. – Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 28:9-10 –“Whom shall He teach knowledge? and whom shall He make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:”
Marqus (Mark) 4:13 – “And He said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?”
v19. – Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 1:29 –“And Elohiym said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and אֶת every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food (meat – KJV).”
Vayiqra (Leviticus) 11:2 –“Speak unto the children of Yashar’el, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.”
Qolasiym (Colossians) 2:16 – “Let no man therefore judge you in food (meat – KJV), or in drink, or in respect of an feast day, or of the New Moon, or of the Shabbath days:”
v20. – Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 17:9 –“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? ”
Ya’aqov (James) 1:13-16 – “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of Elohiym: for Elohiym cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.”
v21. – Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 4:14 –“O Yerushalayim, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?”
Romaiym (Romans) 8:6-8 – “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against Elohiym: for it is not subject to the Torah of Elohiym, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please Elohiym.”
Tehilliym (Psalms) 14:1 –“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no Elohiym. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.”
v22. – Galatiym (Galatians) 5:19-21 –“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of Elohiym.”
v23. – 1st Qorintiym (Corinthians) 3:17 – “If any man defile the temple of Elohiym, him shall Elohiym destroy; for the temple of Elohiym is set-apart, which temple ye are.”
Reflection: Yahusha tries to explain to the people what He is saying but it was impossible for them to understand, just like it is today, because of the condition of their hearts. The desire of a person’s heart will determine whether they want to be fruitful for Yahuah or be fruitful for the world and this is the defilement of person’s soul, the evil desires of the heart.
The talmidiym still did not understand and they did just as we should do, ask the Word for ourselves. They asked Yahusha and even though He was a little annoyed, He answered them plainly and with greater detail about the parable. Just as “followers” of today don’t want to know exactly what Mashiach is saying here, the people of that time didn’t want to know either and they left it at face value, not seeking the deeper understanding of what He said and what He said is “that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him. Because it entereth not into his heart, but into his belly, purging all food?” This statement is clearly not talking about unclean food but things that defile a person’s heart. Unwashed hands do not defile a person but the evil desires of their heart defiles them and Yahusha gives the things that defile a person.
On several translations of verse 19, you will see (Thus he declared all foods clean.) at the end of the verse and this is not in the original text. This is a true statement, because all food is clean, because the Torah gives specific instructions on what is to be considered food and that is what is listed in Bere’shiyth 1:29 and Vayiqra 11 but the statement is taking out of context in people assuming: 1.This statement is in the original text; 2. That it now made things unclean and abominations food by Yahusha changing the Torah.
Yahusha was correct in His statement to the Pharisees, scribes and so called followers of today, that it was well prophesied by Yesha’yahu that the people worship Elohiym in vain, teaching the ridiculously absurd traditions of men for doctrines of sound theology and forsaking the commandments of Yahuah Elohaynu.
**Gospel Cross References for Marqus 7 Verses 1-23: Matthew 15:1-20