for doctrines
as authoritative the precepts of men. Cf. v. Mark 7:5 See "Pharisees" Matthew 3:7 Cf.; Colossians 2:8 ; Colossians 2:16 ; Colossians 2:18 ; Colossians 2:20 ; Colossians 2:23Sadducees Not strictly a sect, but rather those amongst the Jews who denied the existence of angels or other spirits, and all miracles, especially the resurrection. They were the religious rationalists of the time Mark 12:18-23 ; Acts 5:15-17 ; Acts 23:8 and strongly entrenched in the Sanhedrin and priesthood; Acts 4:1 ; Acts 5:17 . They are identified with no affirmative doctrine, but were mere deniers of the supernatural.
Pharisees So called from a Heb. word meaning "separate." After the ministry of the post-exilic prophets ceased, godly men called "Chasidim" (saints) arose who sought to keep alive reverence for the law amongst the descendants of the Jews who returned from the Babylonian captivity. This movement degenerated into the Pharisaism of our Lord's day-- a letter-strictness which overlaid the law with traditional interpretations held to have been communicated by Jehovah to Moses as oral explanations of equal authority with the law itself. (cf. Matthew 15:2 ; Matthew 15:3 ; Mark 7:8-13 ; Galatians 1:14 ).
The Pharisees were strictly a sect. A member was "chaber" (i.e. "knit together,") Judges 20:11 and took an obligation to remain true to the principles of Pharisaism. They were correct, moral, zealous, and self-denying, but self-righteous Luke 18:9 and destitute of the sense of sin and need Luke 7:39 . They were the foremost prosecutors of Jesus Christ and the objects of His unsparing denunciation (e.g.); Matthew 23:13-29 ; Luke 11:42 ; Luke 11:43
Sadducees
Not strictly a sect, but rather those amongst the Jews who denied the existence of angels or other spirits, and all miracles, especially the resurrection. They were the religious rationalists of the time Mark 12:18-23 ; Acts 5:15-17 ; Acts 23:8 and strongly entrenched in the Sanhedrin and priesthood; Acts 4:1 ; Acts 5:17 . They are identified with no affirmative doctrine, but were mere deniers of the supernatural.
Context Summary
Mark 7:1-23 - Breaking The Bonds Of Tradition
The Pharisees laid great stress on ritual. They followed endless rules, both intricate and troublesome, as to ablutions and outward ceremonials. So long as their devotees were careful in the minor observances, they were permitted a wide license so far as the weightier matters of the Law were concerned. This is a natural tendency of the human heart. It is glad to be able to reduce its religious life to an outward and literal obedience, if only its thoughts may be unhampered. In the life of true holiness everything depends on the control of the thoughts. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." With infinite wisdom the wise man said, "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life," and Jesus put "evil-thoughts" first in the black category of the contents of the evil heart. A gang of thieves sometimes put a very small boy through a tiny window that he may unlock the front door. So one evil thought will often admit an entire crew of evil. Heart of mine, hast thou learned this lesson? Art thou careful enough of thy cleanliness? That the hands should be often washed, that vessels of household use should be kept cleansed, that there should be decorum and neatness in the outward life, all these customs are good. But it becomes thee to inquire whether thou art not more eager for the outward than the inward cleanliness. "Create in me a clean heart," should be thy constant prayer. [source]
Chapter Summary: Mark 7
1The Pharisees find fault with the disciples for eating with unwashed hands 8They break the commandment of God by the traditions of men 14Food defiles not the man 24He heals the Syrophenician woman's daughter of an unclean spirit; 31and one that was deaf, and stammered in his speech
What do the individual words in Mark 7:7 mean?
In vainnowthey worshipMeteaching[as] doctrines[the] preceptsof men