Mark 7:1-23

New International Reader's Version

What Makes People “Unclean”?

7 The Pharisees gathered around Jesus. So did some of the teachers of the law. All of them had come from Jerusalem. ² They saw some of his disciples eating food with “unclean” hands. That means they were not washed. ³ The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands to make them “clean.” That’s what the elders teach. ⁴ When they come from the market, they do not eat unless they wash. And they follow many other teachings. For example, they wash cups, pitchers, and kettles in a special way.

⁵ So the Pharisees and the teachers of the law questioned Jesus. “Why don’t your disciples live by what the elders teach?” they asked. “Why do they eat their food with ‘unclean’ hands?”

⁶ He replied, “Isaiah was right. He prophesied about you people who pretend to be good. He said,

⁸ You have let go of God’s commands. And you are holding on to teachings that people have made up.”

⁹ Jesus continued speaking, “You have a fine way of setting aside God’s commands! You do this so you can follow your own teachings. ¹⁰ Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother.’ (Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16) He also said, ‘Anyone who asks for bad things to happen to their father or mother must be put to death.’ (Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9) ¹¹ But you allow people to say that what might have been used to help their parents is Corban. Corban means A Gift Set Apart for God. ¹² So you no longer let them do anything for their parents. ¹³ You make the word of God useless by putting your own teachings in its place. And you do many things like this.”

¹⁴ Again Jesus called the crowd to him. He said, “Listen to me, everyone. Understand this. ^15-16 Nothing outside of a person can make them ‘unclean’ by going into them. It is what comes out of them that makes them ‘unclean.’ ”

¹⁷ Then he left the crowd and entered the house. His disciples asked him about this teaching. ¹⁸ “Don’t you understand?” Jesus asked. “Don’t you see? Nothing that enters a person from the outside can make them ‘unclean.’ ¹⁹ It doesn’t go into their heart. It goes into their stomach. Then it goes out of the body.” In saying this, Jesus was calling all foods “clean.”

²⁰ He went on to say, “What comes out of a person is what makes them ‘unclean.’ ²¹ Evil thoughts come from the inside, from a person’s heart. So do sexual sins, stealing and murder. ²² Adultery, greed, hate and cheating come from a person’s heart too. So do desires that are not pure, and wanting what belongs to others. And so do telling lies about others and being proud and being foolish. ²³ All these evil things come from inside a person and make them ‘unclean.’ ”