The Deadly Lures of Legalism

Let me introduce you to a prospective church member. He will attend every service, including special events. He will go on mission trips with

a passion to convert the heathen. He will tithe, sing in the choir, read his Bible daily, and memorize Scripture. He will be happy to pray in corporate worship. He is thoroughly orthodox in his theology. He is an inerrantist and believes in heaven and hell. He never gets drunk, is not addicted to porn, never uses profanity, is a family man, loves his country fervently, weeps on July 4, and votes the right way. His reputation in the community is stellar. If any man ever earned the right to go to heaven, it is this man. His religion is certainly something to admire.

Sadly this is a man headed for hell. I have just introduced you to a twenty-first-century Pharisee! A Pharisee in the first century was not scorned150 as a legalist. No, he was looked up to as a model citizen and a person of piety and religion. Unfortunately Pharisees had, as Paul says, a “zeal for God, but not according to knowledge” (Rom 10:2). Amazingly we can have a passion for God yet not know God. We can be deceived, captured, and enslaved by the deadly lure of legalism. Tragically, those who have been raised in the church are the most susceptible to this deception. Our pride in our religious rituals, church practices, and cultural traditions blind us to both our great sinfulness and the great Savior who alone can rescue us from our sin.

In Mere Christianity C. S. Lewis writes,

There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which everyone in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else; and of which hardly any people, except Christians, ever imagine that they are guilty themselves. I have heard people admit that they are badtempered, or that they cannot keep their heads about girls or drink, or even that they are cowards. I do not think I have ever heard anyone who was not a Christian accuse himself of this vice. And at the same time I have very seldom met anyone, who was not a Christian, who showed the slightest mercy to it in others. There is no fault which makes a man more unpopular, and no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others.... The vice I am talking of is Pride or Self-Conceit.... Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind. (Lewis, Mere Christianity, 108-9)

And the Scriptures contain harsh language to convey the Lord’s disdain for pride:

Why is God so opposed to pride? It is because human pride is in opposition to God. It thinks more of itself than it should. It thinks more of itself than God does! And amazingly, such pride may be lurking in unsuspecting locations, such as in religion in the guise of legalistic bondage to the traditions of men. What, then, does the deadly lure of legalism look like?

Legalists Honor God with Their Lips, Resulting in False Worship

Mark 7:1-8

Pharisees and scribes, teachers of the Torah (law), come again (cf. 3:22) from Jerusalem amid the growing popularity of Jesus. By now we know they are up to no good. They are certain they know who Jesus is, and they are determined to take Him down.

Too often we have our minds made up in advance as to the character of a person. With our opinions firmly formed, we look only for evidence that will confirm our judgments. Facts will not get in the way of our opinions. And if we cannot find a fault that will stick to him, then we will go after his friends, associates, and followers: “guilt by association.” This is the strategy the Pharisees pursue. Too often we play the game as well.

They Love to Compare Themselves to Others (Mark 7:1-5)

The religious and spiritual elite surround Jesus looking for anything they can use to denounce Him. His disciples provide the perfect opportunity: they eat with “defiled,” that is ceremonially unclean, unwashed hands. This had nothing to do with hygiene. It was all about ritual purity and religious traditions that went beyond scriptural command. These traditions were used to establish the spiritual superiority of the Pharisees and scribes over the common people. Writing to a Gentile, Roman audience, Mark provides an explanation:

So you might have touched something unclean, therefore you must wash. You might have touched a Gentile, so you must wash. If you disregard the “traditions of the elders,” you sin.

152Religious ritual and legalistic traditions had taken over their lives, enslaving them rather than freeing them. However, they are blind to their own self-imposed bondage, so they challenge Jesus with an air of pride, spiritual superiority, and self-righteousness, asking Him, “Why don’t Your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders?” Even they cannot cite a scriptural justification for their practice. No matter. They perceive themselves to be firmly established in the “religious right.” Jesus and His disciples were not.

All this religious washing had a good intent, namely to remind Jews that they were unclean before God. But they were completely off base on the true source of their impurity. Their problem was not outside but inside. It wasn’t their hands but their hearts.

However, it is pretty difficult to compare hearts, which only God can see. So instead, they decided to draw up a list of external religious activities and see who came out on top. That is much easier.

They Actually Play the Hypocrite with a Distant Heart (Mark 7:6-8)

One thing Jesus consistently did was call out hypocrites and expose them for who they truly were. Jesus makes no reference to the conduct of His disciples. Instead, He exposes the heart of the matter: Is the true source of spiritual authority “traditions of men,” or is it the “Word of God”? What will determine how you think and live your life?

Jesus begins with a scathing indictment, calling the Pharisees and scribes “hypocrites”! They were nothing more than religious actors and pretenders. The prophet Isaiah also condemned their hypocritical religion (Isa 29:13). They say the right things about God, but their hearts are still ungodly. Their religion is all words and show. The result was vain, purposeless worship—worship that God neither welcomes nor receives. For evidence, Jesus says they teach as doctrines the commands of men, and they abandon the command of God and hold to the traditions of man. They held that the ultimate authority for spiritual life was both Scripture and tradition, but if there was a conflict between the two, tradition won out every time. Sometimes the Bible wasn’t even considered. “We have our traditions. That is all we need.”

Some potential examples of this legalism in the contemporary church can be found in church business meetings, deacons meetings, church discipline, and religious practices (e.g., church names, meeting times, dress, worship styles, public invitation or no invitation). If we have all the right boxes checked, we’re good! But lists are so easy to check off. Examining153 our hearts isn’t. Can you provide a scriptural basis for what you believe and do? Are you a text-driven or tradition-driven Christian? The difference is crucial.

Legalists Make Void the Word of God, Resulting in Spiritual Disobedience

Mark 7:9-13

Not all traditions are bad. They become bad when we put them on the same level as Scripture or in the place of Scripture. It is a “Bible-plus” kind of religion. In adding to the Bible, you for all practical purposes make void the Bible and nullify its truth and power in your life (v. 13). Jesus makes this crystal clear as He moves into round two with the Pharisees. Again, it is no contest. The “beat down” is ugly! And the exposure of sinful hearts is painful.

They Reject the Commands of God and Establish Their Own (Mark 7:9)

A. T. Robertson noted “the strong contrast here between the command of God and the traditions of men” (Word Pictures, 322). They think they are establishing the command of God, protecting it. In actuality they are rejecting God’s commands, and in the process they establish their traditions as if they were God’s commands. They set aside what is the revealed Word of God and replace it with “made up” traditions of men. How ludicrous! How insane! How human.

Man-made rules and regulations become the object of obedience while God’s commands get set aside. “The constitution and bylaws have the final word in this church.” I have seen it. I have heard it with my own ears. Warren Wiersbe says, “We must constantly beware lest tradition take the place of truth. It does us good to examine our church traditions in the light of God’s Word and to be courageous enough to make changes” (Be Diligent, 71).

We foolishly push away the only trustworthy and infallible source of authority. It is an act of pure spiritual suicide. Have you seen the sad progression? First, they teach the commands of men (v. 7). Then they leave the commands of God (v. 8). Next they reject the commands of God (v. 9). And finally they make void the Word of God (v. 13). And if we are not careful, we will fail to see our own hypocrisy in this progression. Oh, we know it is possible to be a hypocrite. We see it so clearly in others. It is when it is in us that we go spiritually deaf, dumb, and blind.

They Manipulate God’s Word to Their Own Advantage (Mark 7:10-13)

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Jesus now gives His own example that settles the issue. The verdict will not please the religious elite. He goes to the Scriptures, the writings of Moses, pointing out what they clearly teach. Exodus 20:12 and Deuteronomy 5:16 both contain the fifth commandment: “Honor your father and mother.” Exodus 21:17 and Leviticus 20:9 show the punishment for breaking this command: “Whoever curses his father or his mother must be put to death.” The principle is clear: God calls children to honor and respect their parents. However, the Pharisees created a theological loophole. They simply declared what they would have given to their parents “Corban,” a Hebrew term referring to “a gift dedicated to God.” This allowed them to dishonor their parents by neglecting their needs, but they still feel good about it because it was done in service to God. “I serve God by disobeying His expressed command to honor my parents.” What kind of logic is that?!

Jesus tells them that kind of reasoning makes void the Word of God, sets up man-made traditions over God’s commands, and opens the door for many more such actions (Mark 7:13). That kind of reasoning reveals the hardness of our hearts, the hypocrisy of our worship, and the disobedience of our actions, all in the name of religion! These are not atheists and secularists. These are the religious and spiritual leaders of Israel.

They had positioned their traditions in the place of Scripture and themselves in the place of God. The heart truly is an idol factory, and religious traditions are some of its best tools. This truth should concern us all. I may be as guilty as the Pharisees of Jesus’ day and not even see it.

Legalists Are Confused Concerning the Source of Defilement, Resulting in a Lack of True Understanding

Mark 7:14-23

Every human heart has the root of every human sin in it. It is entirely possible to look nice on the outside while being dead on the inside. The most deadly contamination is not what I touch. The most deadly contamination is what is in my heart.

Defilement Has Its Root on the Inside (Mark 7:14-20)

Jesus charges all who are listening in on the theological debate to pay attention and understand. He then delivers a little parable. When His disciples155 ask the meaning of this parable, Jesus once again (cf. 6:52; 8:17-18) chides them for their lack of understanding. This is one of the most critically important spiritual lessons in the whole Word of God. Jesus explains that corruption is not external but internal. Impurity is not a matter of the stomach but of the heart. Defilement is not what goes in but what comes out.

Jesus’ words are spiritually revolutionary! He is saying that the real issues of religious and spiritual faith are internal not external. Sin always proceeds from within. Food ends up in the stomach, but sin begins in the heart. Food is eaten, digested in the stomach, and expelled. Sin, however, remains in the heart and then produces all manner of defilement and death. The basic problem of fallen humanity is not what we do but who we are! Real filth, impurity, and defilement are inside and unseen, but eventually they will show themselves, as verses 21-23 make clear.

By the way, note Mark’s editorial comment in verse 19: “As a result, He made all foods clean.” I believe the study note in the ESV Study Bible (emphasis in original) captures the meaning succinctly:

Mark notes that Jesus’ teaching, in essence, declared all foods clean. The Mosaic ceremonial laws distinguished between “clean” and “unclean” foods (see Lev. 11:1-47). Their purpose was to instill an awareness of God’s holiness and of the reality of sin as a barrier to fellowship with God. But once defilement of the heart is thoroughly removed and full fellowship with God becomes a reality (through the atoning death of Jesus; see Mark 10:45; Rom. 14:14; Heb. 8:6-13; 9:10, 14), the ceremonial laws have fulfilled their purpose and are no longer required.

The point is quite simple: it was always about the heart.

Defilement Reveals Its Fruit on the Outside (Mark 7:21-23)

Mark Dever calls verses 21-23 “the fingers of sin” (“Jesus and Filth”). They are evidence of a corrupt heart. Inevitably, sin’s root will produce sin’s fruit. And it is an ugly, destructive crop to behold. Jesus provides a selective list of sin’s fruit. He highlights no less than 13 characteristics of the evil actions that flow naturally from a sinful heart—actions that always result in sorrow, harmful behavior, and death. The list has a strong Old Testament grounding.

156Evil Thoughts	Evil devising and schemes. They set the stage for what follows.
Sexual Immorality (porneia)	General word identifying any and all sexual sins contrary to God’s will. It includes premarital, extramarital, and unnatural sexual behavior.
Theft	Stealing. Taking from another what is not yours. The eighth commandment (Exod 20:15; Deut 5:19).
Murder	Taking an innocent life. The sixth commandment (Exod 20:13; Deut 5:17).
Adultery	Violating the marriage covenant by engaging in sexual behavior mentally (Matt 5:28) or physically with someone you are not married to. The seventh commandment (Exod 20:14; Deut 5:18).
Greed	Coveting, a desire for more at the expense or exploitation of another. The tenth commandment (Exod 20:17; Deut 5:21).
Evil Actions	Behavior that is bad, wicked; deliberate malice.
Deceit	Deception, dishonesty, cunning treachery.
Promiscuity	Unbridled, shameless living that is lacking in moral discernment or restraint.
Stinginess (lit. “an evil eye”)	Figure of speech for envy, jealousy, rooted in unbelief. It believes God is withholding His best from you. A heart ailment that has the seeds of its own destruction sown within. It is never satisfied! It always wants more.
Blasphemy	Slander; defaming; speaking evil of man or God.
Pride	Arrogance, haughtiness.
Foolishness	Senselessness; spiritual insensitivity.

157These evil actions arise from one’s heart, which is the source of sin that condemns.

Conclusion

There are basically only two approaches to religion, each of which can be summed up in a single word: do or done. The world says the problem is out there, and the solution is to answer the question, What can I do? The Bible says the problem is inside of us, and the answer is what Christ has done! You see, in legalism we think better of ourselves than Jesus does. But in salvation we think the same of ourselves as Jesus does: we are hopeless, helpless sinners in desperate need of a Savior.

First Samuel 16:7 says, “Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.” When the Lord examines your heart, what does He see? Does He see a self-righteous legalist trusting in what “I do” or a humble sinner trusting only in what Jesus has done? The difference is of eternal significance.

Reflect and Discuss

1. Would the Romans of Jesus’ day likely consider pride a vice or a virtue? How do non-Christians generally view pride today?
2. What is different about the Christian worldview that makes us have a different judgment on the value of pride?
3. What is the connection between pride and legalism?
4. Do you have any tendencies toward legalism? How would you recognize such tendencies in yourself? How would you battle against them?
5. What is wrong with the logic behind “guilt by association”? Do you know a person who is godly but who chooses to associate with less reputable types?
6. Which rituals in your church are possible to do as merely external show without necessitating an internal spiritual reality?
7. Which of your practices are long-held traditions that have no basis in Scripture?
8. What are some of your least favorite or most challenging verses in the Bible? Do you sometimes create ways to excuse yourself from obeying those verses, perhaps by employing some work-around or a fanciful interpretation?
9. In what ways do other religions focus on external actions? How is Christianity different from each of those religions?
10. What is the remedy for the list of sinful heart conditions? Why is “trying harder” inadequate and even counterproductive?