Jesus and his disciples do not follow the Jewish traditions which the Pharisees teach are necessary for God’s blessing. But as Jesus will point out to them, they are following this tradition because they are blind to their true condition before God (vv. 21–23) and the solution Jesus provides. They have not understood the nature of true defilement and how they can be cleansed. And lest we think this is only a problem that the Pharisees have, Jesus asks the disciples in v. 18, “Are you [also] so dull,” because they have failed to understand his teaching in this area as well. So let’s go through the passage together, and ask yourself as we do, Do you know your own condition? In part one, we look at the question, are you proud of your own obedience?