Mark is speaking to Israel and the traditions of keeping the law for righteousness sake. A line of reasoning Paul thoroughly debunks in Romans 2:17-23Mark 7:13 (KJV)
[SUP]13 [/SUP]Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
1 Corinthians 1:17 (KJV)
[SUP]17 [/SUP]For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Romans 2:17 ¶ Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
I concur that preaching must confront sin and allow the Holy Spirit to convict the sinner. Men must see that God hates sin and will not allow sin to enter into heaven. The gospel message is that God loves you but hates sin. Die in your sin and you perish eternally.
For the cause of Christ
Roger