For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
The Pharisees and most Jewish people wouldn't eat without washing their hands multiple times, not for hygiene, but because that's how their ancestors always did it.
They were so stuck on tradition that handwashing became more about rules than reasons.
📚 Historical Context
In the time of Jesus, the Pharisees were a prominent Jewish sect that emphasized strict adherence to both the written laws of the Old Testament and additional oral traditions passed down from their religious leaders, known as the elders. One such tradition involved ritual hand-washing before meals to ensure ceremonial purity, which was not commanded in the Scriptures but was seen as essential for avoiding spiritual defilement. This practice is mentioned in Mark 7 to set the stage for Jesus' critique of how human traditions could sometimes overshadow God's true intentions.
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