7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
7 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'
7 They act like they are worshiping me, but they don't mean it. They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy,
7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'
7 Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 7:7
Commentary on Mark 7:1-13
(Read Mark 7:1-13)
One great design of Christ's coming was, to set aside the ceremonial law; and to make way for this, he rejects the ceremonies men added to the law of God's making. Those clean hands and that pure heart which Christ bestows on his disciples, and requires of them, are very different from the outward and superstitious forms of Pharisees of every age. Jesus reproves them for rejecting the commandment of God. It is clear that it is the duty of children, if their parents are poor, to relieve them as far as they are able; and if children deserve to die that curse their parents, much more those that starve them. But if a man conformed to the traditions of the Pharisees, they found a device to free him from the claim of this duty.