Some men came to Jesus, not to be helped, but to find fault. Those men kept rules, which were not in the laws given by God, but had been made by men of Jerusalem, when they became careless of God’s words. Those rules were for how people should wash their hands and dishes, just how much water they should use, and such things. They considered anyone who did not keep those rules “defiled,” unfit for God.
Those men saw that the disciples did not wash according to their rules and complained about them to Jesus. He knew the men were themselves disobeying God’s laws, although keeping their own rules so strictly. They had added to God’s laws, even though He had said, “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you” (Deut. 4:22Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. (Deuteronomy 4:2)).
Jesus knew the men were not being honest with the people, but deceiving them, and He told them, “Ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.”
What Defiles?
Then Jesus called the people about Him to listen, and said, “Hearken unto Me every one of you, and understand.” He explained to them that it was not unwashed hands which made them unfit for God. Instead, it was wicked thoughts, desires, and plans of evil in the heart that defiled a person and made him unfit for God.
The rules of men are still often given, instead of God’s words, which are always true and honest. We need to be sure we follow God’s words, and not what are only men’s rules.
Soon after this talk, Jesus went from Galilee to the country near Tyre and Sidon, which were by the Great Sea. Many people had come from there to Galilee to see Him (Mark 3:88And from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him. (Mark 3:8)), and it may have been to the house of someone who had believed Him that Jesus went.
He did not wish it to be told that He was there. Perhaps this was because people would come only to be healed or to see His power, yet not believe who He was. But we read these words: “He could not be hid.”
One woman heard He was there and came begging Him to save her daughter from an evil spirit. Jesus said that the daughter should be well.
Power and Tenderness
We are thankful for those words, “He could not be hid.” They show us His power as a light not hid and also His tenderness, never refusing one who trusted His mercy, no matter what person or of what nation.
Jesus next went to a country east of the Jordan River. There a man was brought to Him who was deaf and who also could not speak clearly. That was a sad, hard condition, but Jesus did not refuse to help him.
First, Jesus led the man aside from the crowd, not to make a display of His power. Then He placed His fingers in the man’s ears, touched his tongue, looked up to heaven and sighed, and said to the man, “Be opened.” The deaf man heard the words of Jesus and immediately spoke clearly.
Further Meditation
1. How did the Pharisees show they thought they were better than others?
2. If you would like to think more about the beauty that couldn’t be hidden, you might enjoy The Loveliness of Christ by H. Smith.