Scripture Passages
Overview
Have you ever wished that you had the ability to produce food out of thin air? What would it be like if you were able to go camping or on a voyage around the world and not have to pack any food because of your ability to create unlimited amounts out of nothing? In our lesson today, Jesus is offering a gift that is far greater in its ability to sustain life than physical food. What could possibly be better? Grab a Bible and let’s dive in and find out what Jesus is offering.
Opening Activity: Drawing Blind
Supplies: Paper and writing utensil
Divide your students into groups of two or three. Have one person turn their back to the others in their group. Without telling the other people in the group, show the person, with their back to the group, an item that you want them to describe to the others without seeing what they are drawing. Have the others draw what the person is describing without being able to see it. In a given amount of time, compare drawings and objects.
Questions
- Did the item the group drew look like the item that was described to them? Why or why not?
- What made this assignment easy or difficult?
- Without being able to see what was being drawn, how could this activity have been easier?
- How difficult is it to understand what God is like when you can’t see Him?
Transition
It is extremely difficult to draw something one can’t see. Jesus’ job was to share with humanity concepts that help us to better understand the Divine. The difficulty is that humanity and divinity are so far apart. Jesus bridged that gap, but sometimes humanity is too stubborn to see the truth. Our lesson today will help us to better understand this concept.
Bible Study Guide
Read Mark 7:1-7.
1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)
5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”
6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “ ‘These people honor me with their lips,but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’
Questions
- What is tradition?
- Are traditions good or bad?
- What principle are the scribes and elders wanting to portray?
- What principle is God wanting people to understand?
Read Exodus 20:12.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Questions
- What is this passage about?
- How does one honor one’s parents?
- Should this scripture always be followed?
Read Mark 7:8-16.
8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”
9 And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ 11 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)—12 then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”
14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”
Questions
- How were the religious leaders of Jesus’ day applying the law of Moses?
- List at least three principles that Jesus is trying to teach in this passage.
- What does Jesus mean in verse 15?
Read Mark 7:17-23.
17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19 For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)
20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”
Questions
- Does dirt make one’s character dirty? Why or why not?
- What defiles one’s soul?
- What is Jesus attempting to help the people understand?
Read Psalm 51:12.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Questions
- How does one get their heart clean?
- Why is having God’s heart important?
Application
Many people think that it is what is on the outside that makes a person dirty. Showers and disinfectant can clean and fix many things, but they can’t fix a flawed person. Just like a topical antiseptic can’t fix an infection, doing good things doesn’t make one a good person. Being upright and moral comes from following the leadings of the Holy Spirit and wanting to be more like Jesus. Dressing nice doesn’t make us good. Having fabulous hair and nice clothes doesn’t always make Sabbath more special. Hearing, understanding, and internalizing is the only way to become more like Jesus.
Follow Up
In your prayer life over the next week, ask Jesus to help you to see the blind spots in your life that are keeping you from fully realizing who you are—a child of God fully redeemed and loved.
Read and reflect on Ephesians 1:7-10 this week.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
Scripture Passage
Read Mark 7:1-23.
LEADER’S NOTE
For a Relational Bible Study (RBS) you’ll want to get into the Scripture passage and encourage the youth to imagine participating in the story while it’s happening. Then you will be able to better apply it to your own situation today.
You will need to ask God for the Holy Spirit to be present as your small group discusses the questions (no more than 3-6 people in a group is recommended). Start with the opening question. It is a personal question and the answer is unique for each individual. There is no right answer and nobody is an expert here, so don’t be surprised when you hear different responses. You are depending on the Holy Spirit to be present and to speak through your group. Say what God prompts you to say, and listen to what others share.
Take turns reading the chapter out loud. Follow that with giving the students some time to individually mark their responses to the questions (a PDF version of the handout is available as a download). This gives each person a starting point for responding when you start to share as a group. Next, begin the discussion by asking the students to share what they marked and why on each question as you work your way through. Feel free to take more time on some questions than others as discussion warrants.
Encourage each person in the group to apply what is discussed to their personal lives and to share with the group what they believe God wants them to do. Then ask them to pray that God will help each of them to follow through in doing so. Remind them to expect that God will show them ways to live out the message of this passage in the coming week, and that they are free to ask others in the group to help hold them accountable.
Be sure everyone takes time for personal applications before you end your Sabbath School time together.
Overview
Jesus’ ideas were always at odds with Pharisees and the experts of the law. Mark points this out.
At first the law meant the first five books of the Old Testament—the Pentateuch. But in the fourth and fifth centuries before Christ those zealous for keeping the law of God, so they would never again experience captivity, wanted these great principles amplified, expanded, and broken down until they became hundreds of little rules and regulations governing every possible action and every possible situation in life.
The scribes and Pharisees saw that the disciples of Jesus did not observe all the niceties written into “the law.” Jesus essentially told them that they were hypocrites, and they were substituting the law of God for human traditions.
Jesus was attacking a system which put rules and regulations before the claim of human need. The commandment of God was that love should come first; the commandment of the scribes was that the claim of legal rules and regulations should come first. Jesus was quite sure that any regulation which prevented a man from giving help where help was needed, and loving his brother or sister, was nothing less than a contradiction of the law of God.
We must ensure that we never allow rules to paralyze the claims of love. Nothing that prevents us helping others can ever be a rule approved by God.
But Jesus says something more startling yet. He declares that nothing that goes into a man can possibly defile him, for it is received only into his body which rids itself in the natural, physical way. He makes it very clear to all that an outward show is not important. What happens within a person’s thoughts and emotions that lead to actions is what is more consequential.
“Washed Up!”
What do you think is the most misunderstood law in your country? Why?
Read Mark 7:1-23.
1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)
5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”
6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ 8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”
9 And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ 11 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)—12 then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”
14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” [16]
17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19 For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)
20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”
1. What was the issue the Scribes and Pharisees had with disciples?
- They kept crowds of people and did not feed them.
- They did not welcome the visitors into the town.
- The disciples were Jesus’ exclusive club.
- Jesus allowed them to eat with unwashed hands ( Mark 7:2 ).
- They thought the disciples were a racist group.
- These men were not upholding the tradition of the elders ( Mark 7:3 ).
- The disciples were playing pick-up basketball with gentiles.
- They had no respect for the rules they established for prayers.
- Jesus’ followers loved Him more than the religious leaders.
- Other.
2. What was Jesus’ response to this “hit-squad”?
- “Do you not understand, I am God, I do whatever I want?”
- Jesus said to them, “You are all hypocrites!” ( Mark 7:6 ).
- “Go away, you are all demon possessed!”
- “You worship me in vain, teaching men’s doctrines as law” ( Mark 7:7 ).
- “If you say anything else to me, I will bomb you!”
- “Would you check your own hands? There’s lots of blood on them.”
- “Go give your flimsy questions to your peers!”
- “You are all very angry people!”
- Other.
3. What did Jesus say to the people after addressing the Scribes?
- “Don’t worry about those losers.”
- “Are you going to follow them too?”
- “What goes in a man don’t defile him, it is what comes out” ( Mark 7:15 ).
- “If any of you have ears to hear, please listen to me” ( Mark 7:16 ).
- “Let’s all shake the dust from our feet and leave this place.”
- “Let’s go eat, drink, and be merry!”
- “If you are going to follow me, you have to relate to people like this.”
- “When you are in my crowd, there is a target on your back.”
- Other.
4. How did Jesus respond to the disciples’ question in the house? (Mark 7:16)
- He said, “You guys are cowards too.”
- “Don’t question me about such frivolous things!”
- “Are you also without understanding?” ( Mark 7:18 ).
- “What goes into a man does not corrupt the heart” ( Mark 7:19 ).
- “Do you believe them, or do you believe in me?”
- “Why do you hold their traditions in your hearts?”
- “Break out the wine, we got them again!”
- Other.
5. What did Jesus say to His disciples about the heart of humans?
- “The hearts of humanity are saddened with lust.”
- “There is no love within the hearts of humans.”
- “Evil thoughts come from hearts of humans” ( Mark 7:21 ).
- “Human beings have no love for their parents.”
- “Hearts of people are only warm to those they love.”
- “Persons who hold hate in their hearts are hell bound.”
- “The people in this world have hearts filled with peace.”
- Other.
6. What are some of the things Jesus lists, that come from human hearts?
7. What traditions of the church do you hold to that are not necessarily biblical?
8. Is the list Jesus gives in Mark 7:20-23 relatable to you? If so, how?
Summary
Jesus showed how the observance of external rules does not correct the “nature” of the heart. The heart is the core for motivation, deliberation, and intention. He gave a list of behaviors and characteristics that come from the heart—a truly terrible list. When we examine it a shudder surely passes over us. Nonetheless, it is a summons to an honest self-examination of our own hearts.
An evil thought is the spring from which all the other “bad” attitudes and activities arise. Jesus was making it clear that doing the right things does not mean that a person is “right” on the inside. No amount of hand washing can change the selfish nature of the heart or make it clean. There is only one way. His name is Jesus. By trusting in Him for our salvation, we can be changed from the inside out.
Application
Popularity and persecution seem to be at the opposite ends of the response to a public figure. In truth, they are more like the extreme ends of a line that may be stretched out straight at one moment and drawn up to meet at the top of a circle the next moment. On the straight line, popularity and persecution are far apart; on the encircling lines, they are very close together.
Jesus’ ministry is moving on a fast-closing circle. At the same time that His popularity peaks with the miracles of walking on the water, feeding the five thousand, and healing as many as touch Him, the Pharisees in Jerusalem are commissioning a “truth squad” to pursue and discredit Him. Jesus indicts the Pharisees as hypocrites because they have interpreted the law to substitute lip service for heart religion, and human tradition for the commandments of God. What started out as a legitimate religious symbol has become a stage for spiritual play-acting. The heart has been made the center for a defilement that no outward ritual can cleanse. Jesus has signed His death warrant, but at the same time, positioned Himself for the redemptive act which only He can fulfill.
Below, find some application activities to reinforce this week’s lesson. These are simply to provide ideas for your usage, or to invite you to imagine and create some of your own, as you impact the lives of teens for God’s glory.
- Wash Up—Clean Hearts
- Arrange for your students to teach a craft to the primary class.
- During this activity they can apply some of the lessons from the texts you learned this week.
- Summarize the story of Mark 7:1-23 (make sure it is done at the level of the kids).
- Plan to share the story with the younger students. Then do the following activity with them.
- Report back to your youth class the next week.
Supplies Needed: craft foam, scissors, washable markers, containers of soapy water, hand towels or paper towels.
Before class, cut craft foam into 5-inch squares. Give each child a piece of craft foam, a washable marker, and a pair of scissors. Have them draw a heart on the foam and cut it out. Then have them make a big scribble for each thing they can remember having done that might have made God sad.
Talk about how every time we sin our heart looks like this. And there is only one way our hearts can be clean again. As you talk about asking God for forgiveness and believing in Him, have the kids wash their hearts in the soapy water. The marks should come right off and leave them with a heart made clean by God.
- My Real Heart
- Go to the local Dollar Tree, Walmart, Dollar General, or any store that sells Play-Doh.
- Grab as many as you will need for each person in the class to have one.
- Then ask them to share the Play-Doh with a friend, family member, schoolmate, or a trusted adult.
- Share with them the story you have been working with in Mark 7:1-23 .
- Then ask them what they are feeling in their hearts as you shared with them.
- Ask them to create with Play-Doh what their real heart looks like if God was looking at it at that very moment.
- Then pray with that person and for yourself that God would give you new hearts.
- Church Mural Message Board
- Let the class work to make a LESSON DISPLAY board of today’s Bible story in Luke 17:1-23 .
- Choose a bulletin board that is very visible to as many persons in the church as possible.
- Give the students supplies such as masks, paper to draw pictures, disposal gloves to hang on the board, wipes to tape or tack on the board, pictures of hand sanitizers, or tape little bottles of hand sanitizers on the board, and heart stickers and drawings.
- Title the display board.
- Have them write short motivational messages about clean hearts and clean minds with thoughts and ideas from today’s lesson, and draw hearts around them!
- This would be very relatable since we are beginning to climb out of this pandemic. Share with the class all the feedback you are getting about their board.
Teach Me How to Pray
By Kymone Hinds
It seems like such a simple request. It was a request made by the disciples to Jesus one day. They saw Him praying and were so impressed and impacted by His prayer that they wanted to learn to pray like Him.
Prayer can be one of the easiest things to do and one of the most difficult things at the same time. It’s like talking to a friend – that’s easy. It’s talking to a friend you can’t see or hear audibly – that’s hard. Let’s be honest, you look weird talking to someone that is invisible.
Even though God is unseen it does not mean that He is not accessible. He can be reached. He is just a prayer away. This guide will help you to connect with Him deeper and get more out of your time in prayer.
