Defilement comes from within (Mark 7:1-23)

This story questions the very essence of what is really important in our religious life. It would be the mistake to just plain read the story and apply it into our life.

Key Greek terms used here are παραδοσις meaning "tradition, something handed down" and κοινος meaning "defiled; ordinary, profane; mutual" (or the corresponding verb κοινοω). We should not understand these terms universally but in the context of the narrative.

Lets think about tradition first (gr. παραδοσις). Jesus has a particular tradition in mind here: eating food with defiled hands (Mk 7:5). The text stresses that this tradition comes from the elders, not from God and that is the problem (Mk 7:7-9). Religious leaders invented something above God's word and thus they were trying to mold it or even nullify it (Mk 7:13). Story is clear in that it is explaining why this tradition is problematic. It is not about that the tradition is problematic in general.

Similar thoughts must be said about defiled (gr. κοινος). Jesus was not speaking about defiled things in general. He was not trying to cover text like Leviticus 11. Rather he was very specific (Mk 7:2.5) - he is dealing with eating with defiled hands.

So reading these terms in context is fundamental here.

But the story continues. When Jesus is done speaking to religious leaders, he addresses the crowds (Mk 7:14). In this moment he shifts the focus to what is really important. The real problem is what is inside (Mk 7:15.20-22). This is the place where all the evil comes from. This is the place you can not clean by any means.