Worship in Totality

We are glued to Jesus’ response to some Pharisees and teachers of the law who have asked Him a pertinent question. We know His terse response, and outright blatant disgust at their hypocrisy. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men. Mark 7: 7.

Jesus has just told some of the most religious worshippers of Jehovah that they fit perfectly, what the prophet Isaiah said about them. But to whom does the plural pronoun, they, refer? Believe it or not, it refers to hypocrites. He replied, Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: These people worship me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men. Mark 7: 6 - 7. Now Jesus specifically speaks of vain worship as associated with hypocrites.

What is worship? Where is worship? Who is worship and the many more questions on worship, which we may have locked in our curious and perhaps confused minds? Let’s recognize a few simple, but most important facts which speak tons to the ears and eyes of faith.

Why does Jesus speak of worship? Why mention worship at all, to these Pharisees and teachers of the law? It is not the Sabbath Day. It is not the time of prayer in the given day, when all god-fearing Jews go to the place of prayer and worship, to pray. It is not a time or hour when Jesus is holding a prayer meeting, or having a special time of religious teachings. It is not a Festival Day where they are celebrating one of the commanded Jewish Feasts. This is all that we are told about the time and circumstances surrounding this most explosive meeting.

The story is that some Pharisees and teachers of the law have come down from Jerusalem, the mecca of Jewish Law, and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were “unclean,” that is, unwashed. Mark 7: 2. The entire drama centers on a social time, a time of people eating food. Note clearly, these religious people have not witnessed Jesus and all of His disciples eating food. They simply see some of Jesus’ disciples eating with unwashed hands and they are ready to chastise and correct. They address their concern to Rabbi Jesus, the correct thing to do. Yes, they go directly to Him as the responsible Person and ask Him outright. Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with ‘unclean’ hands? Mark 7: 5b.

This is no special meal even, yet Jesus takes this ordinary, daily human need and connects it to something so precious, high and heavenly, as worship to God. How does worship fit in here? What or where in this is worship to God? Have you ever thought about it? Are you thinking about it?

Tomorrow, we will sit low and receive, as we seek the Holy Spirit’s enabling to listen, learn and live.