Episode 21 –
Matthew 15:1–2
טו אַחֲרֵי כֵן נִגְּשׁוּ אֶל יֵשׁוּעַ סוֹפְרִים וּפְרוּשִׁים מִירוּשָׁלַיִם 2 וְשָׁאֲלוּ אוֹתוֹ׃ ״מַדּוּעַ עוֹבְרִים תַּלְמִידֶיךָ עַל מָסֹרֶת הַזְּקֵנִים, שֶׁאֵין הֵם נוֹטְלִים יָדַיִם לַסְּעוּדָה?״
The Talmud states that the ritual of hand washing (netilat yedayim) is invalid if the mind and heart was not also “cleansed.” In the Talmud, Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai, stated: “In life it is not the dead who make you unclean; nor is it the water you wash your hands, but rather the ordinances of the king of kings that purifies.” Maimonides (Rambam) made a similar comment, “For to confine oneself to cleaning the outward appearance through washing and cleaning the garment, while having at the same time a lust for various pleasures and unbridled license … merits the utmost blame.” These things reveal to us how the Pharisees had judgment in their hearts instead of compassion, and therefore Yeshua contested their teachings because they were breaking commandments in their statements against them. They were not following their own teaching, and therefore were disgracing the laws of HaShem. It was by this reason that Yeshua responded that it is not that which goes into your mouth that makes you unclean. Yeshua's statements were not about Kashrut.