7:8 7:8

Mark 7:9

7:10 7:10

Bible Versions

And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
And {G2532} he said {G3004} unto them {G846}, Full well {G2573} ye reject {G114} the commandment {G1785} of God {G2316}, that {G2443} ye may keep {G5083} your own {G5216} tradition {G3862}.
he said to them, "you have made a fine art of departing from God's command in order to keep your tradition!
He went on to say, “You neatly set aside the command of God to maintain your own tradition.
And he said unto them, Full well do ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your tradition.

In Mark 7:9, Jesus delivers a sharp rebuke to the religious leaders of His day, directly confronting their spiritual hypocrisy. This verse encapsulates Jesus' core argument against the Pharisees and scribes who prioritized their man-made rules over the clear commandments of God.

Context

This powerful statement arises from a confrontation where Pharisees and scribes questioned why Jesus' disciples did not observe the traditional ceremonial washing of hands before eating. In the preceding verses (Mark 7:1-8), Jesus exposes their outward show of piety as superficial, quoting Isaiah 29:13 to highlight that their hearts were far from God. He accuses them of nullifying God's law through their own man-made traditions. Verse 9 serves as a direct and sarcastic indictment, summarizing their deliberate choice to reject God's authority in favor of their established customs, particularly their tradition of Corban which allowed them to avoid supporting their parents by dedicating their resources to God (Mark 7:10-12).

Key Themes

  • The Authority of God's Word: Jesus unequivocally declares that God's commandments are supreme and must never be set aside or diminished by human regulations. This highlights the inherent conflict between divine revelation and religious systems built on human rules.
  • Spiritual Hypocrisy: The phrase "Full well ye reject" is laden with biting sarcasm, exposing the deliberate and self-serving nature of the religious leaders' actions. They outwardly appeared devout but inwardly disregarded the very source of true righteousness. This theme is further explored in Mark 7:13, where Jesus explicitly states they "make the word of God of none effect through your tradition."
  • Tradition vs. Truth: The verse draws a clear distinction between traditions passed down by men and the eternal truths commanded by God. Jesus condemns the practice of adhering to the letter of human law while neglecting the spirit and intent of God's law.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "Full well ye reject" carries significant weight and irony. The Greek word translated "reject" is atheteite (ἀθετεῖτε), which means to set aside, nullify, make void, or disregard. It implies a deliberate act of rendering something ineffective or invalid. The accompanying "Full well" (καλῶς - kalos) is used ironically, emphasizing the blatant and intentional nature of their rejection of God's commands. It's as if Jesus is saying, "You are doing an excellent job of setting aside God's law to uphold your own!" This highlights their conscious choice to prioritize human rules over divine mandate, a stark contrast to true obedience.

Practical Application

Mark 7:9 continues to resonate today, challenging believers to examine their own hearts and practices. We must be vigilant against the subtle temptation to elevate personal preferences, cultural norms, or even church traditions above the clear teachings of Scripture. This verse calls us to:

  • Prioritize God's Word: Ensure that our beliefs and actions are rooted in the Bible, not merely in what is popular, comfortable, or customary. True spiritual growth comes from abiding in Christ's word.
  • Guard Against Hypocrisy: Seek genuine heart obedience rather than mere outward conformity. Our worship and service should flow from a sincere love for God and His truth, not from a desire for human approval.
  • Discern Tradition: Not all traditions are inherently bad, but they must always be subservient to God's written Word. Any tradition that nullifies, diminishes, or replaces a divine commandment must be rejected.

This verse serves as a timeless reminder that authentic faith is demonstrated by our submission to God's authority and our commitment to His commandments above all else.

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.
  • Galatians 2:21

    I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
  • Jeremiah 44:16

    [As for] the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee.
  • Jeremiah 44:17

    But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for [then] had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.
  • Isaiah 24:5

    The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.
  • 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:
  • Matthew 15:3

    But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
  • Matthew 15:6

    And honour not his father or his mother, [he shall be free]. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
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