To Wash Or Not To Wash

What really makes a person unclean?

In this sharp-witted and powerful 15-minute stage drama, Pharisees and scribes confront Jesus and His disciples over the seemingly simple act of eating without washing their hands. But beneath the surface lies a much deeper debate—one that challenges tradition, reveals hypocrisy, and draws a bold line between man-made rules and God’s truth.

Set in a minimal scene with just a table and food, the tension rises as religious leaders attempt to shame the disciples, only to be met with Jesus’ unshakable authority and truth. Highlighting Mark 7:30 and echoing Isaiah’s prophecy, this skit exposes the danger of elevating human tradition over God’s commands.

Perfect for church services, Bible studies, or youth drama teams, this engaging and thought-provoking script brings ancient confrontation to life with humor, conviction, and the eternal reminder: it's not what goes into a person that defiles them—but what comes out.

Cast:    8

• Pharisee 1 (P1) – Very religious; overly emphasizes eating without washing their hands; lives by the rules rather than the Word of God
• Pharisee 2 (P2) – Very critical; can’t stand to look at the disciples; they look unclean, dirty, etc. This Pharisee values external righteousness
• Scribe 1 (S1) – Reader of document that states the laws; reads from document
• Scribe 2 (S2) –Mimes what Scribe1 says.
• Jesus
• Peter
• James
• John
• other non-speaking characters as available/desired

Bible Reference:    Mark 7:30

Set:      bare with table and chairs

Lighting:        standard

Sound:     wireless mics if available

Song:     none

SFX:       none

Costumes:      likely traditional

Props:     food, water basin

Special Instructions:   none

Time:     15

Sample script: 

(Scene opens)
Pharisees and Scribes enter. They immediately begin furiously washing their hands, inspecting them, then washing again. They glance at each other out of the corners of their eyes, competing to see who is washing the most thoroughly. This continues briefly until the audience gets the idea.

Jesus and the disciples enter. Jesus stands quietly off to one side, silently observing.

James:
I am starving! … What’s for dinner?

Peter:
You are always starving, James!
(to the other disciples, laughing)
Remember to grab some food before James, son of thunder, eats it all!

John
(ruffling James’ hair, giggling)
Good advice, Peter… But my friend James here works hard — he deserves his food!

James:
Indeed we all work full days, John… Now, I ask again — what’s for dinner?

John
(opens bag, takes out food)
Well, I see we have bread… meat… fruit… We eat well tonight! Dig in, everyone!

Peter:
Our cooks have outdone themselves today… Very good food!

The disciples immediately begin eating. Pharisees and Scribes look on in horror, pointing. James and John give thumbs up and continue eating.

Pharisee 1 (P1):
Surely you would not eat without washing your hands — not to mention your cups and all utensils!

Scribe 1 (S1):
It is written: you will not eat with unwashed hands.

Scribe 2 (S2)
(miming furiously)
Yes — hands must be thoroughly washed, and all utensils… (mimes scrubbing) …thoroughly scrubbed.

James:
You must understand — we’ve been on the road all day. We are tired. We are hungry.

P1:
None of which are reason to break the law. The law is clear! One must thoroughly wash before taking a meal.

John:
We would of course agree with the elders — had we been doing manual labor. But we’ve just been walking all day.

Peter
(wiping hands on his clothing)
As you can see, not so much as a speck of dust.

Pharisee 2 (P2)
(looking away)
I cannot believe you would do such a thing! You have broken the law!

S2
(extends hands, shocked, miming eating)
Your hands are unclean… and as a result, all that enters your body will be unclean.

John
(tosses apple to Peter)
Here, an apple for you.

Peter takes a big bite. S1 is shocked and reads from a manuscript.

S1:
It is written: you must not eat a worm in fruit.

Peter
(examines apple)
No evidence of a worm in this apple.
(quickly eats the rest of the apple)

P2
(covers eyes, turns back to disciples)

S2
(mimes holding something and inspecting it)
One can never know without close examination if the food has been infected.

P1:
And one who eats food in which was a worm has broken the law.

S1:
It is clear and non-debatable: it is written, you must not eat a worm in fruit.

James:
We assure the elders — there were no worms in the apple Peter ate.

P2:
It is not just worms — it is any impurities.

James:
Such as…?

P2
(thinking)
It could be… anything… It could be… flies.

S1:
It is written: you must not eat any winged insect.

Peter:
There is a law against eating winged insects?

S1:
Indeed there is. It is written… (reads) “You will not eat any winged insect.”

P2:
Indeed, it is written.

James:
I don’t understand… Locusts are considered edible food — yet locusts are winged insects.

Pharisees and scribes glance at each other sheepishly.

S2:
That is… that is… actually, a special exemption has been made in the case of locusts.

John:
Well, since the hour is late and we are tired and hungry, perhaps a special exemption will be made — whereby we may finish our meal.

P1 (angrily):
You are breaking the law of the temple!

Peter:
Look around… We are not in the temple.

P1 (angrily):
It is Jewish law!

James
(face to face with Pharisee)
It is late… We are tired… We are hungry… We will eat now.

P1:
You are all breaking Jewish law!

John and Peter stand beside James.

Peter:
My friend said we will eat now — and so we shall!

Pharisees and scribes unwillingly back off. John, Peter, and James continue eating. The Pharisees and scribes notice Jesus standing off to the side and move toward Him.

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