Mark 7:1-8 NIV
“The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles. ) So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?” He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”
The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law were learned people with lots of knowledge. They were very familiar with the Law of Moses and traditions. They took them so serious and these traditions became part of their religious rituals. When they saw the disciples of Jesus did not wash their hand before eating, they went to ask Jesus. They said that they were wrong because they did not do according to their traditions. Jesus replied and rebuked them that they were hypocrites, with lip-service. They practiced religious rituals or outward presentations, but their hearts were far from God.
God knows the hearts of people. “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” （1 Samuel 16:7b NIV）The religious rituals and traditions may help people to worship God. But we cannot judge people with these. After we came to church for a while, we may notice that there are ways of doing things habitually. These usual or habitual ways of doing things can be changed, these can be improved. In fact, our God is God with endless creativities. As long as there is not contradiction against the truth, for the benefit of people, He will do it. When Jesus Christ was living on earth, that was exactly how he did. Jesus healed the sick on Sabbath day. “He is the Lord of Sabbath.”
With God given creativities, we can do things in new ways or with new methods. We can change the old ways, we can make improvement on them. Serving with our heart, with Christ-centered passion, God will be pleased.