they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed.
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
And when they saw some of his disciples,.... An opportunity soon offered of giving them an handle against him: for observing some of his disciples to sit down to meat, they took notice that they eat bread with defiled (that is to say, with unwashen) hands, and they found fault; with them, and charged them with the breach of the traditions of the elders, and...
Verse 2. Defiled hands. The hands were considered defiled, or polluted, unless they were washed previous to every meal. (2) "defiled" or, "common"