clean and unclean food, matthew 15

Last time we said that Mark 7 was talking about clean and unclean HANDS, not clean and unclean FOODS. We even went so far as to say that the little note in verse 19, about Jesus ending all “dietary quibbling” by declaring all things fit to eat, was a complete addition to the text and not what Jesus said, and not in the Greek.

So were we right? If we were, then the rest of Scripture will bear witness to that understanding, but if we weren't, then the rest of Scripture will bear witness to the understanding that “dietary quibbling” has been done away with.

Matthew recorded this same incident and conversation in chapter 15.

“Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” Mat 15:1-2

Here we see the discussion is about clean or unclean HANDS, not clean or unclean FOODS.

“He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” Mat 15:3-9

Here we see the dispute was over elevating the traditions of men (Talmud or Oral Law) above the commandments of God (Torah or Written Law). So far Matthew is point for point with Mark.

“When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” Mat 15:10-11

Remember the discussion is about whether unclean HANDS defile a person, not whether unclean FOODS defile a person. Matthew is still point for point with Mark.

“Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.” So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?” Mat 15:12-17

Mat 15:17 above is the counterpart to Mar 7:19, the verse with the extra commentary. Notice that Matthew records Jesus saying that what goes into the stomach is eliminated or purged from the body, which is what we understood Mark to mean from the King James Version. Here, in Matthew's account, Jesus added not a word about declaring all foods clean. The discussion was never about FOOD but HANDS. Matthew bears that out.

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” Mat 15:18-20

Here in His conclusion, Jesus reiterates that the discussion has been about unclean HANDS, not unclean FOODS.

So far we are two for two!