Mark 7:6

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.

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}.

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.

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.

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

Context of Mark 7:6

In Mark 7, Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees and some scribes who came from Jerusalem. They question Him and His disciples for not observing the traditional ceremonial washing of hands before eating, a human tradition that had become as binding as divine law for them (Mark 7:3-5). Jesus responds by exposing their hypocrisy and misplacement of priorities. This verse is Jesus' direct retort, quoting the prophet Isaiah to underscore their spiritual blindness and the emptiness of their outward piety.

Key Themes in Mark 7:6

  • Hypocrisy Unveiled: The core message is Jesus' condemnation of religious hypocrisy. The Pharisees and scribes meticulously followed external rituals but lacked genuine devotion to God in their hearts. This verse highlights the profound disconnect between their words and their true spiritual state.
  • Heart vs. Lips: Jesus emphasizes that true worship and honor for God must originate from the heart, not merely from outward expressions or lip service. God values inner sincerity and obedience over ritualistic adherence that lacks inner transformation.
  • Tradition Over Commandment: This verse sets the stage for Jesus' broader critique in Mark 7, where He accuses the religious leaders of nullifying God's commandments by their human traditions (Mark 7:8-9). Their focus on external cleanliness overshadowed the weightier matters of the law.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Esaias prophesied": "Esaias" is the Greek form of the Hebrew prophet Isaiah. Jesus directly cites Isaiah 29:13, demonstrating the timelessness of this spiritual problem and validating the Old Testament Scriptures.
  • "Hypocrites" (Greek: hypokritēs): This term originally referred to an actor in ancient Greek theater who wore a mask and played a role. Jesus uses it to describe those who pretend to be righteous or pious while their inner character is contrary to their outward appearance. It perfectly encapsulates the pretense of the religious leaders.
  • "Heart" (Greek: kardia): In biblical thought, the "heart" is not just the organ, but the center of one's being – the seat of intellect, emotion, and will. When Jesus says their "heart is far from me," He is pointing to a fundamental spiritual alienation, a lack of genuine love and devotion.

Practical Application

Mark 7:6 serves as a powerful reminder for believers today to examine their own faith and practices. It challenges us to consider:

  • Authenticity in Worship: Do our worship and service to God stem from a sincere heart, or are they merely outward performances? God desires genuine relationship and devotion, not just ritualistic obedience or public displays of piety.
  • Prioritizing God's Word: Are we careful not to elevate human traditions, cultural norms, or personal preferences above the clear commandments of God? True faith seeks to align with God's revealed will.
  • Inner Transformation: This verse calls us to move beyond superficial religiosity to a deep, internal transformation. As Jesus also taught in Matthew 15:8, it is the state of our heart that truly matters to God, influencing our thoughts, words, and actions.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 29:13 (180 votes)

    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 (159 votes)

    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 (135 votes)

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

  • Matthew 15:9 (135 votes)

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

  • Ezekiel 33:31 (126 votes)

    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 (97 votes)

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

  • Matthew 23:13 (93 votes)

    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.