Mark 7:6

KJV

He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with [their] lips, but their heart is far from me.

KJV (with Strong's)

He answered {G611} and {G1161} said {G2036} unto them {G846},{G3754} Well {G2573} hath Esaias {G2268} prophesied {G4395} of {G4012} you {G5216} hypocrites {G5273}, as {G5613} it is written {G1125}, This {G3778} people {G2992} honoureth {G5091} me {G3165} with their lips {G5491}, but {G1161} their {G846} heart {G2588} is {G568} far {G4206} from {G575} me {G1700}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Yeshua answered them, "Yesha`yahu was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites -- as it is written, `These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from me.

Berean Standard Bible

Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.

American Standard Version

And he said unto them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, But their heart is far from me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Mark 7:6, Jesus directly confronts the Pharisees and scribes, exposing their spiritual hypocrisy by quoting the prophet Isaiah. He reveals the profound disconnect between their outward religious devotion—manifested in meticulous adherence to human traditions and ceremonial washings—and the true condition of their hearts, which are far from God. This verse serves as a powerful indictment against external piety that lacks genuine internal transformation and sincere love for God, setting the stage for Jesus' broader teaching on true defilement originating from within.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is Jesus' sharp retort to a challenge from the Pharisees and some scribes who had come from Jerusalem. The preceding verses ([Mark 7:1-5](/mark/7-1-5 "Mark 7:1-5 - The Pharisees Question Jesus")) detail their criticism of Jesus' disciples for not observing the traditional ceremonial washing of hands before eating, a practice deeply ingrained in their oral tradition. Jesus' response in [Mark 7:6-8](/mark/7-6-8 "Mark 7:6-8 - Jesus Rebukes the Pharisees") immediately follows this accusation, directly addressing their hypocrisy before He expands on the principle that true defilement comes from within, not from external practices ([Mark 7:14-23](/mark/7-14-23 "Mark 7:14-23 - What Defiles a Person")). The quotation from Isaiah 29:13 is central to His argument, demonstrating that their current spiritual state was a fulfillment of ancient prophecy.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The religious landscape of Jesus' day was dominated by groups like the Pharisees and scribes, who were meticulous in their adherence to the Mosaic Law and the vast body of oral traditions that had developed around it. These traditions, often called "the tradition of the elders," were considered by many to be as authoritative as the written Law itself. Ceremonial washings, like those mentioned in [Mark 7:3-4](/mark/7-3-4 "Mark 7:3-4 - The Tradition of Washing Hands"), were not commanded in the Old Testament Law but were rabbinic interpretations intended to maintain ritual purity. The Pharisees' concern was with external conformity and ritual cleanliness, believing that such practices made them righteous before God. Jesus' challenge directly strikes at the heart of this legalistic mindset, contrasting outward show with inner reality.
* **Key Themes:** Mark 7:6 is pivotal in highlighting several key themes within the Gospel of Mark and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it powerfully exposes **hypocrisy**, revealing the chasm between outward religious performance and the true spiritual condition of the heart. Secondly, it underscores the critical biblical distinction between **external ritual and internal reality**, emphasizing that God values genuine devotion and a transformed heart over mere lip service or ceremonial adherence. This theme is further developed as Jesus later explains that true defilement comes from within a person, from the heart, not from what goes into the body ([Mark 7:15](/mark/7-15 "Mark 7:15 - What Truly Defiles")). Finally, the verse introduces the theme of **tradition versus divine commandment**, setting the stage for Jesus' subsequent argument that the Pharisees had nullified God's word by their human traditions ([Mark 7:8-13](/mark/7-8-13 "Mark 7:8-13 - Nullifying God's Word with Tradition")), particularly exemplified by their reinterpretation of the commandment to honor parents.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Hypocrites (Greek, _hypokritḗs_):** This term (G5273) originally referred to an actor on a stage, one who wore a mask and played a role. By extension, it came to mean a dissembler or pretender. Jesus uses it here to describe the Pharisees and scribes as those who outwardly present themselves as righteous and pious, meticulously following religious customs, while their inner character and true motives are contrary to their outward appearance. It perfectly captures the essence of their pretense and the disconnect between their public persona and their private spiritual state.
* **Honoureth (Greek, _timáō_):** Derived from _timios_ (G5091), meaning "to prize" or "to fix a valuation upon," this verb signifies to revere or show respect. In this context, it refers to the outward actions and words of worship or respect directed towards God. Jesus acknowledges that the people perform acts that appear to honor God, such as their diligent observance of traditions and their verbal expressions of piety. However, the subsequent clause immediately qualifies this honor as superficial, lacking genuine internal reverence.
* **Heart (Greek, _kardía_):** In biblical anthropology, the "heart" (G2588) is far more than a physical organ; it is the center of one's entire being—the seat of intellect, emotion, will, and moral character. When Jesus states that their "heart is far from me," He is pointing to a fundamental spiritual alienation. It signifies a lack of genuine love, devotion, and obedience that should originate from the innermost core of a person. This distance of the heart implies a spiritual emptiness and a failure to truly know or serve God despite outward religious activity.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He answered and said unto them, 'Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written...":** Jesus directly confronts the Pharisees and scribes, affirming the prophetic word of Isaiah concerning them. The phrase "Well hath Esaias prophesied" indicates that Isaiah's ancient words precisely describe their current spiritual condition, highlighting the timeless nature of this particular spiritual problem. By calling them "hypocrites," Jesus unmasks their pretense and the insincerity of their religious practices. The phrase "as it is written" introduces the direct quotation from Isaiah, grounding Jesus' accusation in the authority of Scripture.
* **"...This people honoureth me with [their] lips...":** This clause, part of the Isaiah quotation (Isaiah 29:13), describes the outward manifestation of their piety. They offer verbal praise, participate in rituals, and meticulously observe traditions, all of which outwardly appear to be acts of honor towards God. Their "lips" represent their spoken words, their prayers, their public declarations of faith, and their adherence to ceremonial practices. This part of the prophecy acknowledges their external religious activity.
* **"...but their heart is far from me.":** This is the crucial contrasting clause, revealing the internal reality that nullifies their outward show. Despite their lip service, their "heart"—the core of their being, their affections, their will, their true devotion—is spiritually distant from God. This distance implies a lack of genuine love, obedience, and intimate relationship. It signifies that their religious actions are motivated by human approval, self-righteousness, or tradition, rather than by a sincere desire to please and know God.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 7:6 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. The most prominent is **Quotation/Allusion**, as Jesus directly quotes from Isaiah 29:13. This not only lends prophetic authority to His condemnation but also demonstrates the continuity of God's concern for genuine worship over superficiality across different dispensations. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Contrast**, setting up a stark opposition between "lips" and "heart." The "lips" represent outward, visible, and often performative religious actions, while the "heart" signifies the inner, invisible, and true spiritual state. This contrast highlights the fundamental disconnect Jesus is addressing. Finally, the phrase "their heart is far from me" functions as a **Metaphor** for spiritual alienation. The physical distance implied by "far" is used to describe a profound spiritual separation, indicating a lack of intimacy, devotion, and alignment with God's will.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 7:6 profoundly impacts our understanding of true worship and the nature of God's relationship with humanity. It asserts that God is not impressed by mere external conformity or ritualistic adherence if the heart is not genuinely devoted to Him. The theological implication is that true piety must originate from an inward transformation and a sincere love for God, rather than from a desire for human approval or a legalistic fulfillment of rules. This verse underscores the biblical emphasis on the heart as the wellspring of life and the true locus of spiritual authenticity. It challenges the notion that religious activity, however diligent, can compensate for a lack of genuine relationship with the Divine.

Cross-references that illuminate this truth include:
* [1 Samuel 16:7](/1_samuel/16-7 "1 Samuel 16:7 - The Lord Looks at the Heart")
* [Matthew 15:8-9](/matthew/15-8-9 "Matthew 15:8-9 - Parallel Account of Jesus' Rebuke")
* [Jeremiah 17:9-10](/jeremiah/17-9-10 "Jeremiah 17:9-10 - The Deceitfulness of the Heart")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 7:6 serves as an enduring mirror for believers, challenging us to examine the authenticity of our own faith and practices. It calls us to move beyond superficial religiosity to cultivate a deep, internal devotion to God. In a world often focused on outward appearances and public displays, this verse reminds us that God sees beyond the surface, valuing the sincerity of our hearts above all else. It prompts us to consider whether our worship, service, and obedience are truly motivated by love for Him, or if they are merely performances driven by tradition, obligation, or the desire for human affirmation. The call is for integrity—for our inner spiritual state to align with our outward expressions of faith.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be prone to "lip service" rather than "heart service" in my walk with God?**
* **Am I prioritizing human traditions, cultural norms, or personal preferences above the clear commands and principles of God's Word?**
* **How can I cultivate a heart that is genuinely "near" to God, rather than merely performing religious duties?**
* **What practical steps can I take to ensure my worship and service are authentic and rooted in a transformed heart?**

### FAQ

**What does Jesus mean by calling the Pharisees "hypocrites" in this context?**

Answer: When Jesus calls the Pharisees "hypocrites" (from the Greek _hypokritēs_), He is using a term that originally referred to an actor who wore a mask and played a role on stage. In this context, He means that the Pharisees were pretending to be righteous and pious, meticulously following external religious rituals and traditions, while their inner spiritual state—their "heart"—was far from God. Their outward actions did not reflect genuine devotion or obedience, but rather a performative piety aimed at human approval or self-righteousness, as highlighted by the quotation from [Isaiah 29:13](/isaiah/29-13 "Isaiah 29:13 - The Prophecy of Lip Service").

**Why is the distinction between "lips" and "heart" so significant in this verse?**

Answer: The distinction between "lips" and "heart" is profoundly significant because it highlights the core difference between superficial religiosity and genuine faith. "Lips" represent outward expressions—words, prayers, rituals, and visible acts of worship. The "heart," in biblical thought, is the center of one's intellect, emotion, and will; it is the seat of true character and motivation. Jesus' point, quoting Isaiah, is that while one can outwardly honor God with words and actions ("lips"), if the inner being ("heart") is distant or disengaged, then that honor is empty and meaningless to God. True worship and obedience must flow from a sincere, transformed heart, not merely from external conformity, as Jesus emphasizes throughout His teaching (e.g., [Matthew 6:1-6](/matthew/6-1-6 "Matthew 6:1-6 - True Righteousness")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 7:6, with its stark indictment of hypocrisy and emphasis on the heart, finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Pharisees' "far heart" represented humanity's universal problem: a spiritual alienation from God due to sin, which no amount of outward religious performance could bridge. Jesus, however, perfectly embodied true heart-devotion to God, living a life of perfect obedience and sincerity, always doing the Father's will ([John 8:29](/john/8-29 "John 8:29 - Jesus Always Pleases the Father")). He is the one whose "heart" was never far from God, providing the perfect model of genuine worship. Furthermore, Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross addresses the very root of the "far heart" problem. By His death and resurrection, He provides the means for humanity's hearts to be drawn near to God, not through ritualistic washings or human traditions, but through faith in Him ([Ephesians 2:13](/ephesians/2-13 "Ephesians 2:13 - Brought Near by the Blood of Christ")). The New Covenant, inaugurated by Christ, promises a new heart and a new spirit, where God's law is written on the heart, enabling true, internal worship and obedience ([Jeremiah 31:33](/jeremiah/31-33 "Jeremiah 31:33 - The New Covenant") and [Hebrews 8:10](/hebrews/8-10 "Hebrews 8:10 - God's Law on the Heart")). Thus, Jesus not only exposes the hypocrisy of a "far heart" but also provides the only way for hearts to be genuinely transformed and brought near to God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 29:13

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near [me] with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

Titus 1:16

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Matthew 15:7

[Ye] hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

Matthew 15:9

But in vain they do worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.

Ezekiel 33:31

And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee [as] my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, [but] their heart goeth after their covetousness.

2 Timothy 3:5

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Matthew 23:13

¶ But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in [yourselves], neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.