washing hands before eating - not a bad tradition

[chuckd]

Matt. 15:1-2 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.”

Notwithstanding the hygienic benefits (which of course was not the purpose of this tradition), there may be instances where you unknowingly touch an unclean thing throughout the course of your day. Mark identifies the marketplace as one especially bad hotbed where who knows what touched the things there (Mark 7:4).

So why not wash your hands in case you did come in contact with something unclean? Wouldn't it be akin to offering a sacrifice or seeking forgiveness for any unknown sins?

Was the issue that it was being imposed on the people as a command?

 

[Polanus1561]

Sorry, I am lost. Who do you think are the ones who did not/do not wash their hands, here?

 

[chuckd]

Sorry, I am lost. Who do you think are the ones who did not/do not wash their hands, here?

The disciples

 

[Contra_Mundum]

Lev.5:3, "Or if he touches human uncleanness—whatever uncleanness with which a man may be defiled, and he is unaware of it—when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty."

The idea of "preempting" the acquisition of guilt, by means of an extra, just-in-case cleansing is, in fact, perverse. It is a work of supererogation.

The ignorant person is functionally innocent, in spite of whether God or anyone but the individual is aware of a breach. There is a certain kind of shield in true (as opposed to studied) ignorance. On the other hand, if he has become unclean in fact and has (in consequence) created a trail of contamination in his wake, the potential uncleanness becomes real. The knowledgeable person is ritually guilty, and is obligated to cleanse himself and to see to the actual informing of others with whom he came into contact (so bringing realization to them also) so they may admit of guilt and pursue cleansing according to the law.

The Pharisees were too fastidious. Their concern was not for any actual accrual of ritual uncleanness or guilt, but for the glory they felt was theirs due to how great care they took in "respect" of the law. The laws of cleanliness were intended to teach Israel something of the privilege and preparation necessary for a right relation to God and coming near him in worship. The Pharisees' treatment of those laws was more like a mockery than respect.

 

[ReformedChristian]

When reading this Scripture it reminds me of the fact that Jesus said its sin that defiles you and makes you unclean. The Pharisees turned it into a ritual instead of knowing the true meaning.

Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.-Psalm 24:3-5

And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.-Mark 7:20-23

I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”-1st Timothy 2:8