Mark 7:1-23 – Trad Life

Posted on 11/12/2025

Jesus not only defends His disciples from the demands of the scribes, He reveals that their traditionalism is ungodly and a new covenant has come.



Our text in this study is: Mark 7:1-23

Series: Who Do You Say That He Is?

Gene Pensiero Jr



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Trad Life: Tradition vs. Transformation (Mark 7:1-23 Bible Study)

Join us as we continue our verse-by-verse study through the Gospel of Mark! In this crucial Bible teaching from Mark 7:1-23, Jesus confronts the religious leaders—the scribes and Pharisees—over the issue of human tradition versus the commandments of God. This message is vital for anyone seeking spiritual growth and a deeper communion with Christ.



The video dives into a pivotal moment in New Testament history where Jesus reveals a new arrangement for people to be right with God. The Jerusalem scribes traveled over 100 miles to find fault with Jesus’ disciples for not observing the tradition of the elders—specifically, a ceremonial hand-washing ritual not found in the Law of Moses.



Key Takeaways from Mark 7:1-23:

The Danger of Traditionalism: We explore how the Pharisees’ focus on arbitrary religious rules and oral traditions (like those later codified in the Mishnah) led them to nullify the actual Word of God. Jesus uses the example of “Corban” to demonstrate how human doctrines can actually prevent us from obeying God’s clear commands, such as honoring your father and mother.



Hypocrisy and the Heart: Jesus calls the religious leaders hypocrites, exposing how their outward ceremonies and loud display of supposed holiness masked hearts that were far from God, as prophesied by Isaiah. True worship is not a show, but a matter of the inner man.



A Watershed Moment in Theology: We unpack Jesus’ declaration that “nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” This is a powerful, watershed moment—Jesus not only puts Himself above the traditional interpretations of the Torah but also declares all foods clean, signaling the end of the Mosaic dietary restrictions and the ushering in of the New Covenant.



The Core Problem and the True Solution: Jesus identifies the true holiness problem—it’s not unwashed hands, but the defiled heart from which flow evil thoughts, greed, pride, and foolishness. Our relationship with God is no longer based on keeping a set of rules (like the Sabbath or a dietary law), but is secured by the Deliverer, Jesus Christ. The video emphasizes that it is the blood of Jesus that truly sanctifies and gives us the robe of righteousness.



Live a Life of Transformation

This Calvary Chapel Bible study encourages Christianity seekers and serious Bible students to ask themselves: Are we living by the transformation of the Spirit or are we still clinging to human traditionalism? Learn what it means to have a heart that is clean and inscribed with God’s divine revelation, rather than rules of men.



If you are interested in studying the Bible verse by verse, understanding the New Covenant, and learning about Jesus Christ, subscribe for more Gospel of Mark teachings and evangelical content.



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