Legalism: The Risk Of False Binding and Loosing

The Disagreement Over True Piety  Mark 2:15-17 Table fellowship  Mark 2:18-22 Fasting  Mark 2:23-3:12 Sabbath  Mark 7:1-23 Ritual Cleanliness Mark 7:20 “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man.”

Where We Are Going In Mark 7 Mark 7:1-23 Vs. 1-8 The Problem of Legalism: False Binding and Loosing Vs The Problem of Tradition: Why Scripture Alone Matters Vs The Problem of False Piety: Why Only Christ Can Cleanse Us

Jerusalem Delegates Find Fault With Jesus Mark 7:1-2 The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed.

The Jews’ Extra Biblical Traditions Mark 7:3-4 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders; and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper pots.)

The Problem Of Exceeding Scripture Exodus 30:19 “Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet from it; Exodus 40:12 Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the tent of meeting and wash them with water. The Law Mishnah: “Tradition is a fence around the law.”

Is Jesus Bound To The Elders’ Tradition? Mark 7:5-8 The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?” And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”

Application  We must remember that binding people beyond what the Scriptures have bound them to is immoral and damaging. Vs. 3 “observing the traditions of the elders” Vs. 5 “Your disciples don’t walk according to the tradition of the elders” Vs. 7 “teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.” Vs. 8 “Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”

What Is Binding And Loosing? True Binding and Loosing: Determining what is not permissible and what is permissible morally for people to do according to the Bible. Examples: 1. It is not permissible to murder. 2. It is not permissible not to forgive. 3. It is permissible to live where you want.

What Is Binding And Loosing? Matthew 18:18 Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.  Have been bound = perfect tense, passive voice  “whatever you bind on earth shall already have been bound in heaven!”  “The heavenly decree confirming the earthly one is based on a prior verdict”

The Damage Of Legalism What Legalists do: Matthew 23:4 They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. The Results: Matthew 23:13 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

The Only Remedy: The Gospel Psalm 38:4 For my iniquities are gone over my head; As a heavy burden they weigh too much for me. Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation. Matthew 11:29-30 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”