July 27

Pharisaism

Now in holding to the tradition of the elders, the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat until they wash their hands ceremonially. — Mark 7:3 BSB

The religion of the Pharisees wasn’t about love for God or about inner character and behavior; instead, it focused on ceremonial rituals that they observed with great care. They washed their hands before meals because they believed that unclean hands would make the food impure. Yet, they made no effort to cleanse their hearts of evil or unkind thoughts and feelings toward others. They washed when they came home from their shops, believing that contact with worldly business defiled them, but they weren’t concerned with being just, honest, and true in their dealings with others. They ensured that every pot, kettle, and vessel was ceremonially clean, but they didn’t check their hearts to see if they were clean for God’s Spirit to dwell in.

We must all be careful not to make our religion about external forms of worship. We may pray often, read a set number of Bible chapters, and go through other spiritual disciplines, but these alone don’t make us truly religious. True religion is measured by how much we have the spirit of Christ in our hearts, dispositions, and actions. "The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit."

Loving God and others sums up all our duties. Without this love in our hearts, expressed in our lives, our religious practices are meaningless. External cleanliness is important, but a clean heart should lead to a clean life in all its actions, habits, and words. However, spotless hands, scrubbed floors, and meticulous observance of rituals will not please God if our hearts lack love for Him and for others. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."