RITUALS, SIGNS, AND ROUTINES: CAN THEY KEEP US FROM HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD?
Is it possible that one’s Religion can become nothing more than empty rituals and worthless Practice?
“Welcome back! This is Part 6 of our 13-part series.
We are studying the Book of Mark. We now journey through Mark 7 and 8.
In these two chapters, Mark will reveal powerful lessons about genuine faith and heartfelt devotion.
They uncover how insincerity and rituals can misshape our relationships with God and others.
Join us as we look at moments in Jesus’ captivating work of seeking to transform insincere hearts into hearts that are pure and genuine.
But, before we begin, as always, let’s invite God’s Presence.
Inviting God’s Presence.
Almighty God, open our ears that we may hear and our eyes that we may see. Examine our minds and transform our thinking. Give us pure hearts and clean minds. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
The Book of Mark
(Lesson 6)
Inside Out
Part 1 Introduction
At the onset of Mark 7, Jesus stirs up controversy by rejecting the religious traditions of that day.
He refuses to accept the religious leader’s false ideas and teachings.
His actions are a wake-up call for us today.
True faith comes from within, not from rigid external rituals. (Split)
Jesus in Mark 7:15 challenges every professed believer who practices such activity, saying: “‘There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man ” (Mark 7:15, NKJV)
Then, prompting deeper reflection, Jesus tells a riddle to help his listeners gain more understanding of true faith.
To help his disciples grasp this concept further, he takes them on a field trip to Tyre and Sidon, where he encounters a Syrophoenician woman.
This woman, despite cultural barriers, debates with Jesus and wins.
She is depicted as the only person in the Gospel who wins an argument with Jesus.
His encounter with her is unique in that it underscores the power of genuine faith.
Beneath this encounter are a few secret communications the woman picked up on.
What are they? And what made Jesus grant her request?
We find out in this lesson. So, Keep watching.
Mark 8 introduces bread as a symbol of teachings and traditions and warns against depending on signs for spiritual growth. We see this later in the lesson.
From childhood, Jewish children were immersed in rabbinical requirements. Jesus, however, did not conform to these traditions. He constantly studied the Scriptures, valuing God’s word over man-made rules. This distinction between divine precepts and human traditions is vital. Jesus observed that many religious practices were empty rituals devoid of true spiritual meaning. Their service lacked peace and freedom, which comes from worshipping God in spirit and truth. Jesus explains that defilement comes from within, not from external sources. Purity and impurity are matters of the soul, not adherence to man-made ceremonies. Traditions highly valued by the rabbis were earthly, not divine. Every human invention replacing God’s commandments is ultimately worthless. (The Desire of Ages, p. 84 paraphrased)
This issue persists today. Even among Christians, traditions can overshadow divine commandments.
When we cling to customs and resist those who highlight these errors, we miss out on what really matters.
Read Mark 7:1-13 to see how prevalent this was in the time of Jesus.
Think about how easily you can fall into the same trap.
Let us now look at how we can move beyond mere traditions to a more genuine, heartfelt faith in God so that we don’t miss out on what He is saying to us.
Continue to Part 2: Part Human Traditions Versus God’s Commands
The Book of Mark
(Lesson 6)
Inside Out
Part 2: Human Traditions Versus God’s Commands
Is it possible that one’s Religion can become nothing more than empty rituals and worthless Practice?
In Mark 7:1-13, Jesus introduces this possibility and prompts us to reconsider how we approach our faith.
He helps us to see that even the most deeply religious practices can become hollow when they lose their true purpose.
In taking a closer look at Mark 7:1-13, we see that it uncovers the essential truths that reveal how our hearts, not mere rituals and traditions, should define our relationship with God.
Mark 7:1-13 paints a vivid picture of how religious practices can become empty.
The Pharisees and teachers of the law were obsessed with ceremonial washing, questioning Jesus in Mark 7:5, saying:
“Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” (Mark 7:5).
They accused Jesus’ disciples of not following their man-made traditions, which they believed were essential for spiritual purity.
This scene invites us to imagine children returning home from Bible School, announcing to their mothers, “We don’t need to wash our hands before eating because Jesus said so!”
This is a perfect example of misunderstanding Jesus’ message.
The issue here wasn’t hygiene or germs; it was about how these practices were used to signify spiritual cleanliness.
In Jesus’ day, having clean hands was a common concern.
In fact, despite originally being applied only to the priests in the Old Testament times, as instructed in Exodus. 30:17–21, the religious leaders made a commandment for handwashing for all the people.
This command for the people was based on the idea that washing hands was necessary to remain ritually pure.
In other words, by Jesus’ time, the religious leaders had expanded this rule, which was intended for the priest officiating in the temple, and imposed it on everyone, thus turning it into an oppressive tradition.
It is in keeping with this tradition that the religious leaders complain to Jesus about His disciples.
How did Jesus respond?
Jesus does not directly answer their question. Instead, He defends His disciples with a two-angel response, first quoting Isaiah 29:13:
“These people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,” (Isaiah 29:13).
Using the quote from Isaiah, Jesus criticized them for putting human traditions in the place of God’s commands.
This criticism highlighted a core issue: the religious leaders had become more concerned with external compliance than internal sincerity.
Then Jesus uses another angel. Playing off the quotation from Isaiah, Jesu refers to God’s commandment to honor one’s parents, as stated in Exodus 20:12.
2 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12)
He contrasted this command with the religious tradition where one could give something to God (a gift, corban), use it for oneself, but deny its use to elderly parents in need.
He criticized them for using this religious tradition as a loophole to avoid caring for their elderly parents.
This practice, known as “_corban_” (a gift devoted to God), allowed people to dedicate resources to the temple that were meant to support their elderly parents while still benefiting from them.
Imagine, a young man telling his parents, “I would love to help you, but I’ve given my money to the temple.”
This misuse of religious rules was a way to dodge their responsibilities to their parents.
Jesus harshly condemns this type of hypocrisy because they elevated human tradition above God’s Commandment, which is sin.
For sin, according to 1 John 3:4, “is the transgression of the law”
Jesus’ response to the Pharisees’ question shows that their insistence on hand purification does not align with God’s divine will.
Instead, He shows that he clearly supports the commandments of the Law of God over human traditions.
We find further evidence of this in Mark 1:44; Mark 7:10–13; Mark 10:3–8; and Mark 12:26, 29–31.
Without sincere faith in God, ritual and religious practice are pointless, and those attempting to live by them place themselves in a useless, endless cycle.
The book The Desire of Ages highlights this endless cycle saying:
“The life of those who tried to observe the rabbinical requirements was one long struggle against ceremonial defilement, an endless round of washings and purifications.” (The Desire of Ages, p. 396)
“The religious leaders’ focus on outward observance missed the heart of the law, which is love and justice. Even the disciples were not entirely free from these burdens imposed by tradition and prejudice. Jesus calls out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. His words are a warning to all believers who might place human traditions above divine precepts. Jesus’ mission was to liberate us from such empty practices and lead us to a faith that is alive and sincere.
This issue is not confined to ancient times. Even today, many religious practices emphasize tradition over a genuine relationship with God. The customs of the church or the traditions of the fathers can sometimes overshadow the true essence of faith. (Split)
But Jesus reminds us that: “In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” (The Desire of Ages, p. 398)
Are there traditions or rituals you observe without understanding their spiritual significance?
Do your actions come from genuine faith or mere habit? Jesus teaches us to focus on internal purity and authentic worship rather than external rituals. (Split)
God desires worship that is genuine and heartfelt. True righteousness comes from a sincere heart guided by authentic faith and devotion.
Jesus makes this point by offering a riddle. What is the riddle and what did he mean by it? Read: Mark 7:14-19
Then, View the next segment of this video, Part 3: Clean Hands or Clean Heart?
The Book of Mark
(Lesson 6)
Inside Out
Part 3: Clean Hands or Clean Heart?
Mark 7:14–19 challenges us to see how easily our faith can become nothing more than rules and rituals.
What did Jesus mean when He spoke to the crowd, saying in Mark 7:15:
15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. (Mark 7:15) (Split)
This statement might seem like Jesus is dismissing the dietary laws in Leviticus 11 regarding clean and unclean foods.
But is He really saying that the dietary laws no longer matter?
Is Jesus casting aside the biblical principles of diet, health, and hygiene?
Is there no longer a distinction between clean and unclean foods, as expressed in Leviticus 11?
Let the Holy Spirit lead you, and you decide what is best for your health as we examine Jesus’ riddle in Mark 7:14-19.
To understand this riddle, we need to look at what Jesus was really addressing.
First, just before this passage, Jesus emphasized the importance of God’s commandments over human traditions in Mark 7:6-13.
By disregarding God’s dietary and health laws, Jesus would then be contradicting Himself.
Wouldn’t it be odd for Jesus to suddenly dismiss the Mosaic instructions in Mark 7:14–19 when He had just defended Moses against tradition in Mark 7:6–13? (Splkoeo)
Second, the traditions the Pharisees promoted do not have a basis in Old Testament teaching; on the contrary, the dietary and health laws do.
Third: The Pharisees had added numerous laws about cleanliness and food that were not from the original Mosaic Laws given by God.
These traditions included such things as believing that touching food handled by Gentiles made one impure, which was the focus of Jesus’ critique.
Therefore, what does Mark 7:19 mean when it says: “because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?” (Mark 7:19) (Split)
Jesus was not abolishing the laws of health but declaring invalid the tradition of the touch contamination that the Pharisees had devised.
The dietary laws established in the Old Testament were designed to maintain health, and certainly, He would not encourage unhealthy practices.
He was making another point.
What was Jesus’ point in Mark 7:19? When Jesus says food doesn’t defile a person, He isn’t talking about abolishing the health laws of Moses.
He is instead exposing the hypocrisy of the Pharisees’ teachings, which put the traditions of man over genuine faith.
Jesus was abolishing their tradition of touch contamination.
The false notion that you could be contaminated by coming in contact with Gentiles and be defiled through contact with food they had touched was made invalid.
Jesus’ point was that it is not the stomach, but the heart that makes one spiritually impure.
In Mark 7:19, Jesus notes that food does not go into the heart but into the stomach and then passes out through the intestinal tract.
But Mark 7:21-23 solves his riddle saying: it is “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” (Mark 7:20-23)
Jesus shifts the focus to the true source of defilement: the human heart.
It’s not external practices that determine our spiritual state but the inner thoughts and intentions that lead to evil actions.
Jesus references the fifth commandment in Mark 7:10, showing that his teachings support the validity of God’s commandments, thereby highlighting how breaking the commandments stems from a heart that is turned away from God.
What’s more, in Mark 7:7, He discusses the emptiness of worship that ignores the first four commandments, revealing how external rituals become meaningless when disconnected from true devotion.
Therefore, it is evident that Jesus defends the Law of God throughout this passage rather than invalidating it.
Traditions can overshadow the essence of our relationship with God, leading us to worship rituals instead of embracing a genuine connection with Him. (Split)
A genuine connection with God will prompt our hearts to obey his commands not out of traditions but out of our love for God and our love for humanity.
Thus, true worship and faith come from a sincere heart, not from human traditions and commandments.
Therefore, we must strive to move beyond empty practices and embrace a relationship with God grounded in genuine faith, love, and obedience to His commandments.
Another troubling question is in Mark 7:24-30. Is Jesus, in so many words, calling a woman a dog? Read Mark 7:24-30. What do you think? Enter your thoughts in the comment section.
Then, Continue to the next segment of this video, Part 4: Crumbs for the Dogs.
The Book of Mark
(Lesson 6)
Inside Out
Part 4: Crumbs for the Dogs
Mark 7:24-30 raises important questions about faith, perseverance, and the inclusiveness of God’s love.
Here we look at Jesus’ encounter with a Syrophoenician woman and uncover the profound lessons it holds for us.
In the region of Tyre, Jesus encounters a woman who is desperately seeking His help for her demon-possessed daughter.
24 Jesus got up and went away from there to the region of Tyre. And when He had entered a house, He wanted no one to know of it; yet He could not escape notice.
25 But after hearing of Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet.
26 Now the woman was a Gentile, of the Syrophoenician race. And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. (Mark 7:24-26)
Jesus initially responds in a way that seems harsh, saying:
“Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” (Mark 7:27).
This response can be troubling at first glance.
Why would Jesus, known for His compassion, tenderness, and love, refer to her, in so many words, as a dog?
He was using this as a teaching moment.
There are two key elements in Jesus’ response that provide insight.:
In Mark 7:27, Jesus mentions that the children should be fed “first.”
This implies a sequence. If there is a “first,” there must be a “second.”
This suggests that he was showing that while His primary mission was for Israel, it didn’t entirely exclude others.
- Jesus uses a term referring to house dogs, not wild street dogs. It’s a miniature form of the word “dog,” meaning smaller or more familiar dogs that are allowed inside the house, as opposed to street dogs.
This subtle difference indicates a level of inclusion and familiarity.
The woman picks up on these hints and responds with remarkable faith and humility.
Being quite direct, she replies:
“Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs” (Mark 7:28, NKJV).
What made her respond so boldly?
Certainly, her love for her daughter pushed her to persist.
But Jesus also gave her hope.
When He said “first,” it suggested there could be a “second.”
He also implied she was like a dog under the table, not a literal dog under the table.
So, just as the dog is in the house under the table waiting for the crumbs that fall, she is at Jesus’ feet, pleading for her daughter.
So, she claimed the dog’s right to the food that fell on the floor.
The woman’s reply shows her, humility and great faith.
By calling the miracle of healing her daughter from a distance a “crumb,” she showed that she believed in Jesus’ power to heal.
Jesus was moved by her faith and granted her request.
In the Desire of Ages it says:
“By His dealings with her, He has shown that she who has been regarded as an outcast from Israel is no longer an alien, but a child in God’s household. As a child it is her privilege to share in the Father’s gifts.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 401.
Despite being seemingly rejected, she persists, showing her determination and belief in Jesus’ mercy and power to heal.
By responding to the woman’s faith, Jesus shows that God’s love and blessings are not limited to a selected group of people but to everyone, regardless of background.
The woman’s faith turns a seemingly negative response into a powerful testimony of what happens when we are persistent and put our trust fully in God.
Jesus’ actions break down racial and cultural barriers, emphasizing that faith and humility are what truly matter.
Prejudice against other races and nationalities is contrary to Jesus’ teachings.
We are called to love and accept others as part of God’s family, breaking down any barriers that separate us.
Jesus’ encounter with the Syrophoenician woman challenges us to embrace inclusivity and see everyone as a valuable member of God’s family.
Prejudice had excited even among Jesus’ disciples.
This was the reason for Jesus’ delay in immediately responding to the women’s request.
He wanted to teach his disciples a lesson.
Notice what it says in Christ Object Lesson:
The Saviour manifested divine compassion toward the Syrophenician woman. His heart was touched as He saw her grief. He longed to give her an immediate assurance that her prayer was heard; but He desired to teach His disciples a lesson, and for a time He seemed to neglect the cry of her tortured heart. When her faith had been made manifest, He spoke to her words of commendation and sent her away with the precious gift she had asked. The disciples never forgot this lesson, and it is placed on record to show the result of persevering prayer.—Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 175.
In the story of the Syrophoenician woman, Jesus teaches us to overcome prejudice and embrace compassion and inclusivity.
Jesus’ inclusivity extends to the disabled. A group of people brought a man for healing to Jesus who had trouble speaking and could not hear.
Jesus healed him in an unconventional way. What did he do? Read Mark 7:31–37
Then, continue to the next segment of this video: Part 5: Tongue Tied.
The Book of Mark
(Lesson 6)
Inside Out
Part 5: Tongue-tied
Showing that true faith comes from within, not from rigid external rituals, Jesus used every moment to teach, heal, and inspire.
As with the Syrophoenician woman, so it was with the man who had trouble speaking and could not hear in Mark 7:31-37.
As Jesus journeyed back to Galilee, He took a longer, unconventional route through Tyre, Sidon, then inland and down through the region northeast of the Sea of Galilee, finally arriving near the sea itself.
Why such a winding route? Perhaps so He could spend more time teaching His disciples and maybe emphasizing that the journey itself can be as crucial as the destination.
Upon reaching Galilee, Jesus was approached by a group of people with a deaf man who also had difficulty speaking.
Mark doesn’t specify who brought the man, just a group, but what matters is the man’s need and Jesus’ compassionate response.
It is not known how long this man has been unable to speak or hear.
But what we do know is that hearing loss can isolate, and severe deafness can make learning to speak difficult.
Understanding the man’s predicament, Jesus takes the man aside, privately away from the crowd.
This act of healing might seem unusual, especially for us today. Jesus puts His fingers in the man’s ears, spits, and touches the man’s tongue.
Then, He sighs deeply. Why the sigh?
It says in the Desire of Ages, “He sighed at the thought of the ears that would not be open to the truth, the tongues that refused to acknowledge the Redeemer.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 404
This shows Jesus’ deep compassion and sorrow over humanity’s choices.
Yet, despite His sorrow, Jesus miraculously healed the man, knowing that he might refuse to hear him and verbally reject him.
Thus, His sigh demonstrates the boundaries God has set for Himself concerning human free will.
God will not coerce or force anyone’s decisions. Every person is free to choose their leader—either the Prince of Life or the Prince of Darkness.
While Jesus could open deaf ears, He would not force or coerce unbelieving hearts to recognize His messiahship.
This brief story also shows what God can do for those who willingly and genuinely give their lives to him from the inside out.
Perhaps you have been reluctant to share your experiences about what God has done for you or have felt tongue-tied about what to say.
This miracle is encouraging in that the Lord Jesus can open our ears so that we can be sensitive to others’ needs and give us the right words to help others on their journey.
Consider this: Jesus’ actions show that God honors our free will.
We can choose to follow Jesus, the Prince of Life, or turn away and follow Satan.
This freedom is both a gift and a responsibility God has lovingly given to all.
Jesus could make everyone listen, but longing for genuine, heartfelt acceptance, He respects our choices
People sigh to express a range of emotions, from sadness, disappointment and even contentment. It is a nonverbal way of communicating how we feel.
Again, Mark tells us in Mark 8:11-13 that Jesus sighs Was His sigh one of disappointment or contentment?
Sighing shows Jesus’ emotional side: how did He respond after sighing?
To find out, Read Mark 8:11-13
Then, continue to the next segment of this video, Part 6: Watch Out for Bad Bread
The Book of Mark
(Lesson 6)
Inside Out
Part 6: Watch Out for Bad Bread
After all the miracles Jesus had performed in the sight of the Pharisees, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven.
How did Jesus respond? Did he show them a sign?
11 Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him.
12 But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.”
13 And He left them, and getting into the boat again, departed to the other side. (Split)
The leaders demanded a sign from Jesus to prove His authority, which deeply upset Him. But why didn’t Jesus perform a miracle to prove He was God?
Disappointed by their request, Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit.
Could Jesus have performed another miracle and convinced his nitpicking petty objectors of His divine power?
To understand His refusal, we must go back and look at the end of Mark 3:28-29 where Jesus discusses the sin against the Holy Spirit.
The point is that if a person’s ears and eyes are shut, another explanation, another discourse, another miracle, or even a sign from heaven will not convince them. It would just be dismissed like everything before.
In other words, if a person’s heart and mind are closed, even miracles are not enough to convince those determined not to believe.
What does this say? Miracles alone cannot change the hearts of those who choose not to believe.
After all the miracles Jesus had performed in the sight of the Pharisees, they still demanded Jesus perform a sign from heaven to prove His authority.
Imagine witnessing countless miracles and still asking for more proof. This is what happened in Mark 8:11-13:
Consider this: Have you ever met someone who refuses to see, no matter how much evidence you present?
Their hearts are hardened, just like the Pharisees’.
This is why Jesus didn’t perform a miracle on demand—it wouldn’t have made any difference.
Moving forward, Jesus took the time, however, to explain to His disciples why He didn’t give the Pharisees a sign.
He warned them against the “yeast” of the Pharisees and Herod.
Yeast? What did Jesus mean?
In Mark 8:14-21, In their sudden departure from Magdala, the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they had with them only one loaf.
Jesus uses this incident as another teaching moment for his disciples.
He takes the opportunity, using the metaphor of bread to warn the disciples against the “leaven of the Pharisees and Herod, meaning their teachings.
Notice what it says here:
The disciples were inclined to think that their Master should have granted the demand for a sign in the heavens. They believed that He was fully able to do this, and that such a sign would put His enemies to silence. Yet, the disciples did not discern their hypocrisy.
The leaven placed in the meal works imperceptibly, changing the whole mass to its own nature. So if hypocrisy is allowed to exist in the heart, it permeates the character and the life. . . . The scribes and Pharisees were insinuating deceptive principles. They concealed the real tendency of their doctrines, and improved every occasion to instill them artfully into the minds of their hearers. These false principles, when once accepted, worked like leaven in the meal, permeating and transforming the character. It was this deceptive teaching that made it so hard for the people to receive the words of Christ.—The Desire of Ages, p. 408.
In Matthew 16:12, we see a clear connection as Jesus warns against the misleading teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
However, His disciples misunderstood Jesus, thinking He was talking about not buying literal bread.
As is typical, when the disciples did not understand something, to help them understand, he used it as an opportunity to teach them.
So, in Mark 8:1-10, showing His disappointment that the disciples still don’t understand His mission, Jesus asks a series of rhetorical questions.
His words remind us of what He said in Mark 4:10–12 about people who don’t get His message.
Thus, he uses strong words designed to wake up the disciples from their spiritual stupor.
In Mark 8:19-20, He asks straightforward questions about how many baskets of leftovers were collected after He fed the 5,000, as in Mark 6:30-44 and the 4,000, as in Mark 8:1-10.
These questions are meant to show the disciples that a lack of resources is never a problem for Him.
In Mark 8:21, Jesus asks another rhetorical question: “Do you not yet understand?” (ESV).
After all, After everything the disciples have seen and experienced with Jesus, they should certainly have understood. (Split)
But think about yourself. Have there ever been times when you witnessed God do something really amazing for you, but you struggled to believe it was real?
Maybe you experienced a personal breakthrough that you doubted could be possible.
Like Jesus’ disciples, we can be slow to understand and accept the miracles He performs in our lives.
So, why do some of us continue to doubt despite all the proof God provides?
This question challenges us to examine our own hearts and minds.
Remember, God gives us countless reasons to believe in Him and accept His love. Let us open our hearts to understand his teachings, embrace His miracles of a changed heart, and accept His love.
Thank you for watching this video. May you carry the lessons received and apply them to your life. Ask God to increase our faith every day.
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