Mark 7:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Talmud provides detailed guidelines regarding the amount of water necessary for this practice, the method of washing, when it should occur, and the order of operations depending on whether the number present is greater or less than five. Members of the Essene sect employed a full immersion before meals. The adherence to these regulations was so prioritized that the Sanhedrin would impose excommunication for any breaches. By criticizing the actions of the disciples, the Pharisees likely sought to challenge the Savior regarding the handwashing rule alongside other traditions. They might have intended to elevate their accusation from an individual oversight to a broader disregard for traditions, possibly aiming to prompt the Savior to express His views on the significance of these customs. This notion is suggested by His response. According to the Talmud, the traditions of the elders hold greater weight than the teachings of the prophets, even superior to the commandments of the law, for while the law consists of both critical and non-critical aspects, every word of the elders is deemed vital and must be followed without exception. A parable in the Talmud illustrates this: a king dispatched two of his acquaintances to one of his territories with instructions, writing of one, "If he does not show you my ring, do not trust him," while of the other he wrote, "Even if he does not display my ring, believe him." This division represents the prophets and the elders. Concerning the prophets, it states, “If a prophet arises among you... and gives you a sign or wonder” (Deuteronomy 13:1), and regarding the elders, “You shall act according to the word that they declare to you from the place which the Lord your God chooses” (Deuteronomy 17:10).

An incident, which seemed minor at first, provided them the opportunity to confront His disciples regarding their failure to uphold the traditions of the elders. Among the Jews, it was widely accepted that beyond the written Law, God had imparted to Moses an oral tradition that was passed down verbally—from Moses to Joshua, and on through the judges and prophets. This oral tradition, collection of rabbinical teachings and interpretations, commanded unwavering respect from the people. Under the influence of the scribes and Pharisees, the populace often prioritized the letter of the Law over its spirit, sacrificing true morality for human customs.

These numerous, often minute, prescriptions of the oral tradition were collectively referred to as the "traditions of the elders," and were observed with greater stringency than the moral commandments found in the God-given Law established in the Pentateuch. Such traditions ensnared the life of the Jewish people in constructs set forth by false interpreters of Divine revelation who placed heavy burdens on the shoulders of others (Matt. 23:4).

On this occasion, the Pharisees and scribes challenged the disciples of Jesus Christ for not practicing the ritual washings prescribed by tradition. The Mosaic Law (Lev. 11) meticulously delineated the categories of clean and unclean animals, stating that anyone who came into contact with unclean items would be deemed unclean until evening. Additionally, it outlined procedures for purifying impure vessels, including that any unclean item touching a wooden or cloth vessel required it to be washed, and required the destruction of earthenware containers if they came into contact with impurity (Lev. 11:24-25, 32-33).

By creating a "fence" around the Law, the Jewish legalists went to great lengths in their interpretations and mandated handwashing before meals, fearing that the uncleanness from unwashed hands could inadvertently contaminate food. This broadened interpretation relied on the "tradition of the elders" and was bolstered with superflous stipulations that would later become part of the Talmud. As the Holy Evangelist Mark observed, the Pharisees and all Jews would not eat unless they washed their hands, adhering to the traditions of their forebearers (Mark 7:3-4).

When the Pharisees and scribes observed some of Jesus’ disciples consuming bread without first washing their hands, they initially rebuked them and subsequently directed their inquiry to the Teacher: “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” St. John Chrysostom notes that the disciples did not intend to violate the tradition; rather, they regarded the excessive customs as burdensome, focusing instead on fulfilling the essential commandments.