THESE PEOPLE HONOR ME WITH THEIR LIPS

Mark 7:1-13

Key verse 7:6b

These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

1. Read verses 1-4. Who had come from Jerusalem and for what purpose might they have gathered around Jesus? (1) What did they see? (2) In light of their religious practices, why might they have been offended by Jesus’ disciples? (3-4)

2. Read verses 5-8. What did the Pharisees and teachers of the law ask Jesus? (5) What was Jesus’ reply? (6-8) What can we learn from Jesus? Think about some examples of following the traditions of men instead of God’s words.

3. Read verses 9-13. How did the Pharisees and teachers of the law set aside the commands of God to observe their own traditions? (9-12) What does “you do many things like that” show about them? (13)