Neville Goddard on Mark 7:1-13 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Mark 7 in context

Scripture Focus

1Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.

2And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

3For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

4And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

5Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

6He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

7Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

8For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

9And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

10For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

11But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

12And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

13Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

Mark 7:1-13

Biblical Context

The passage reveals that ritual washings miss the point of holiness. Jesus shows that defilement comes from the heart, not from unwashed hands.

Neville's Inner Vision

Look at this scene as a map of inner life. The disciples may have clean hands, yet the heart speaks through motive; your true God is the I AM within. When you cling to the tradition of men, you trade the living commandment for a shadow. Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, and that prophecy becomes your own mirror: you honor me with your lips while your heart is far from the inner ruler. The law God requires is not a list but an alignment of consciousness with the Father within. To worship in truth is to revise outward forms until they serve inner reality. Do not resist tradition because it is ancient; release the belief that ritual alone makes you holy. The real cleaning is a shift of state: assume you are already in harmony with the divine command, feel that you are the I AM, and let this feeling realign every action. What you called defilement dissolves as you accept the inner order.

Practice This Now

Sit quietly for a minute and assume the state I am the I AM aligned with the divine command within. Feel the inner motive replacing external ritual; if you have judged another's tradition, revise it by declaring Corban is no longer your standard and God's command is present.