Book of Mark - Chapter 7 - Verse 2

When the Pharisees saw some of Jesus' disciples eating bread with unwashed hands, they found fault with them. This incident sheds light on the strict adherence to religious traditions and practices during the time of Jesus. For the Pharisees, ritual cleanliness was of utmost importance, and they believed that eating with unwashed hands made a person ceremonially unclean. According to Jewish tradition, washing hands before a meal was not just about physical cleanliness but also about spiritual purity. By criticizing the disciples for not following this tradition, the Pharisees were trying to hold them accountable to the religious customs of the time. This encounter serves as a reminder of the tension between religious legalism and the teachings of Jesus, who often challenged the Pharisees' emphasis on outward rituals over matters of the heart.

In this verse, the phrase 'defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands' holds theological significance. The Jewish tradition at the time mandated a strict washing of hands before eating. Failure to do so was seen as ritually unclean and defiled. By criticizing Jesus' disciples for not adhering to this tradition, the Pharisees were not just pointing out a lack of hygiene but accusing them of spiritual impurity. This incident reflects a common theme in the gospels where Jesus challenged the religious practices of the Pharisees, emphasizing that true purity comes from the heart rather than outward rituals. The theological interpretation of this verse revolves around the idea of focusing on the internal state of a person rather than external appearances. It serves as a reminder to prioritize spiritual cleanliness over legalistic adherence to traditions.