Don’t know if they were in a hurry. Maybe just lazy. Or sloppy like a kid–but they weren’t kids. But they didn’t wash their hands before dinner. Mom always told you to do that. It’s a health thing. Your hands get dirty and can spread germs from somewhere to the food you eat and make you sick. We know you should wash up before eating.
First century Jews, however, had turned hygiene into a religious rite. Not that it’s bad to pray thanks to God for your food. But they had developed a set of rules about washing up before eating. You don’t just wash, you have to do it the prescribed way. It was a ritual, not hygiene.
These people were with Jesus. He was supposed to be a teacher, yet hadn’t he taught these people the right way to wash their hands? That’s just plain wrong. At least, it’s wrong in the eyes of the “teacher’s pets, rule follower” groups watching Jesus for every misstep. It’s like watching the grammarian to catch each error of grammar. So they made a big stink about it.
But Jesus didn’t reprimand his followers and instruct them in the proper procedure for hand washing. He instead used the situation for two teaching moments.
First, he asked the purpose of the rituals. Is it just about following rules? Or is it about having your heart in the right place. Do you wash your hands in remembrance of God, to honor God? Or do you do it so that you won’t get yelled at?
Then he expands the teaching to all around them. The concept of washing hands is that they are “defiled” or dirty in the sight of God. And therefore the food they touch will also be dirty in the sight of God. But Jesus said that what makes you dirty in the sight of God is not what goes into your body. It’s what comes out. It’s the results of your emotions and thoughts that are dirty and not aligned with God. That’s what makes you dirty.
So, have you washed your heart today?
Faith Venture 
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