Mk 7:1-13
1Now when the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around [Jesus], 2they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. 3(For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. 4And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles [and beds].) 5So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”
6He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors me with their lips,/ but their hearts are far from me;/ 7In vain do they worship me,/ teaching as doctrines human precepts.’ 8You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” 9He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! 10For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother shall die.’ 11Yet you say, ‘If a person says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban” ’ (meaning, dedicated to God), 12you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. 13You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”
Without carefully washing their hands: When we were kids, we were taught to wash our hands before sitting at the dining table. More, my father would tell us that when we eat, we are before the grace of God. The food is a blessing from God; we should take it with respect and gratitude. We should not fight before the grace of God. We should leave every ill will and all concerns behind when we come to table. We should share and be sensitive to the needs of one another at table. We should leave something for anybody who will be late for the meal. We are not to leave anything on our plates, for there are others who do not have anything to eat.
In short, we are asked not only to wash our hands when we eat but also to clean our hearts.
All these are part of the real washing the Lord is asking from the scribes and Pharisees. It was true then; it is truer today.