The only washing of hands in the Torah
In pre-Pharisaic times, the washing of hands was necessary for handling holy objects (Shabbat 14b), and
only applicable to the cohanim (priests) before entering the Temple (Positive Law 24: Exod 30:19 - On
Cohanim washing hands & feet before entering Temple.) This was later extended to some in the
handling of food. But once again, there was a debate between the Schools of Shammai and Hillel. Shammai
insisted on washing the hands before filling the cup. Y‘shua referred to this when he said, ―they clean, or
declare pure, the outside of the cup." Hand washing was not, then, a universal command; although some
chose to live under such restrictions. Apparently at this time, a majority of purity laws applied only to priests
or to laymen who had occasion to enter the Temple.
Y‘shua‘s response to this situation compared favourably with other rabbis of his time. The famous First
Century rabbi, Yohanan ben Zakkai, stated: ―In life it is not the dead who make you unclean; nor is it the
water, but rather the ordinances of the king of kings that purifies.‖ Much later, Maimonides made the same
comment, ―For to confine oneself to cleaning the outward appearance through washing and cleaning the
garment, while having at the same time a lust for various pleasures and unbridled license ... merits the
utmost blame.‖ So, Y‘shua‘s analysis and criticism were quite Jewish and most appropriate. The evil things
that come out of our heart make us unclean.
Many have interpreted the passage in Mark 7:17-19 to mean that Y‘shua set aside the food laws - clean and
unclean foods. But by doing so, he would have contradicted himself. His attackers had just accused him of
not observing their traditions, and He had responded that they did far worse; they did not observe the
commandments of the Torah (verse 9-13). For Y‘shua to set aside a commandments of the Torah would
have undermined the point he was trying to make. Bottom line, what Y‘shua was saying was this, ―the
washing or not washing of hands before you eat does not make you ceremonially clean or unclean, but it is
what comes out of your heart that makes one unclean. Therefore the foods you eat, pass through you, and
have no affect on the cleanliness of the heart. Therefore all food God has given you to eat is ritually clean,
whether you have washed or not washed.‖
We cannot assume that Y‘shua opposed the Jewish dietary food laws established by YHWH. But by the
Third Century, Origen understood it as signifying the rejection of Jewish dietary laws by Y‘shua. The
overwhelming majority of modern translators accept Origen‘s interpretation when they take Mark 7:19 to
mean, ―Thus he declared all foods clean.‖
If this was so, why did Peter react so strongly against the possibility of eating non-kosher food when he saw
the vision in Acts 10? He expressed great indignation and shock. Why did he not say in Acts 11, "Now, I
remember the words of Y‘shua, all foods are clean"? He said nothing of the sort, because Y‘shua had not, in
fact, set aside the dietary laws of the Torah.
The tradition of washing hands
The tradition of the elders: this was the oral law, handed down by the elders of the past in ―ex cathedra‖
fashion and later codified in the Mishna. Handwashing before meals is not a requirement of the Old
Covenant. It is, we know, a good thing for sanitary reasons; but these legalistic rabbis made it a mark of
righteousness for others at any rate. This item was magnified at great length in the oral teaching. The
washing (niptontai) of the hands called for minute regulations. It was commanded to wash the hands before
meals and it was one's duty to do it after eating. The more rigorous did it between the courses. The hands
must be immersed in the water which must be "clean". The cups or pots used must also be ceremonially
"clean". Vessels were kept full of clean water ready for use (John 2:6-8). Thus, a real issue was raised
between Y‘shua and the rabbis. It was far more than a point of etiquette or of hygienics. Theses legalistic
rabbis held it to be a mortal Sin. The incident may have happened in a Pharisee‘s house.
15:3-8 Why do ye also transgress the commandment of YHWH by your tradition?
―(3) But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your
tradition? (4) For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or
mother, let him die the death. (5) But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by
whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; (6) And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free.
Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. (7) Ye hypocrites, well did
Esaias prophesy of you, saying, (8) This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me
with their lips; but their heart is far from me.‖