> And [x] asked [jesus], “Why do Your disciples not walk in accordance with the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unholy hands?” But [jesus] said to [x], “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites
[x] = Pharisees and the scribes = "hypocrites", right?
You are missing the cultural significance of the washing of hands. It was not meant to be about sanitation (or, any culture could have that).
1. The handwashing rule was invented by the Pharisees, and was not a part of Jewish law.
2. It was also not a tradition for sanitation, but was created to serve a ritualistic role to show they were ritually purified.
3. Because it was just a made up rule God did not give, and it was meant for the ritualistic appearance of purity, it is obviously hypocritical if the priest has no concern about their internal state (sin and whatnot).
4. In which case, it would be much less hypocritical if they either said it was for sanitation; or that it was a symbol while still admitting their unworthiness before God.
5. This is why Jesus elsewhere calls them “whitewashed graves.”
Thank you for the correction, i.e. it wasn't a humorous tale of someone getting defensive after getting called out for not washing their hands in a modern sense.
I'll note that you're agreeing with me in this subthread that Jesus wasn't calling his disciples hypocrites, but the Pharisees.
> In which case, it would be much less hypocritical if they either said it was for sanitation;
Some might and do argue that various religious taboos not that rarely served very practical purposes (at least at the time they were established). Also I wouldn’t be that eager to claim that ancient people could’ve that easily made the distinction between religious/ritual and physical purity/cleanliness like we do.
One important aspect of Christianity compared to some other religious which did survive for thousands of years to some degree was the prioritization of the spiritual world over the physical. Personal grooming, focus on one’s look or hygiene was viewed as somewhat sinful.
