Psalm: 72

Meditation

Mark: What is clean and what is unclean? We tend to be no better than the Pharisees – actors all of us. The debate here is what does “clean” mean? Jesus is rather clear the “nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him.” (v. 15) We see the words “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48) Thus we begin to think perfection is not just that perfection is attainable (it is not), but also that it is a command. As Paul reminds us so often “the just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17 which Paul sourced from Habakkuk 2:4). The point is that we are ever dependent on God most especially when we think we’re not.

Gospel: Mark 7:1-23

New Testament: Acts 16:25-40

Old Testament: 2 Samuel 4:1-12