Mark 7-11; Proverbs 17:1-14

Saturday's Bible Reading: Mark 7-11; Proverbs 17:1-14

A couple of themes emerged in our Bible reading this week.

The first was "out of." (Actually, this theme started in the book of Exodus, but it was interesting to see it continue this week in Leviticus and in the gospel of Mark.)

I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy. —Leviticus 11:45

Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.' " —Mark 7:15

The other theme, interestingly, was clean and unclean. On Friday in Leviticus 11 we read a detailed description of clean and unclean food. Then on Saturday in Matthew 7 we read what Jesus said to and about those who took the concept too far, thus violating another command: "Do not add to what I command you and do not subract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you" (Deuteronomy 4:2).