Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem,
One great design of Christ's coming, was, to set aside the ceremonial law which God made, and to put an end to it; to make way for which he begins with the ceremonial law which men had made, and added to the law of God's making, and discharges his disciples from the obligation of that; which here he doth fully, upon occasion of the offence...
Commenting on Mark 7:1-23
MARK CHAPTER 7 Verses 1-23. See this passage explained in the Barnes Notes on . and . Verse 1. Came from Jerusalem. Probably to observe his conduct, and to find matter of accusation against him. (l) "Then came together"
The former part of this chapter acquaints us with the conference or disputation which our Saviour had with the Pharisees about their superstitious observation of the Jewish traditions. These traditions were such rites and customs as were delivered to them by the elders and rulers of the Jewish church in former times: which traditions they valued and regarded more than the express commandments of God.