Mark
Copyright © 2008 Darroll Evans

 

CHAPTER 7

 

Mark 7:1-16
1 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.
2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

 

Afterward, some Pharisees and scribes came from Jerusalem to see this man from Galilee. When they saw some of his disciples eating bread without washing their hands, they fell into fault finding.  That is normal for those who do not understand God’s purpose fro mankind. 

 

Many times, religious ritual is far more important than spiritual relationship. All “religious” folk find great satisfaction in following man-made tradition!

 

Now, mind you, washing one’s hands is a good thing, but it has little (if anything) to do with right standing before God.

 

Jews in that day washed everything, including themselves in the Mikvah or baptismal pool.  It was a matter of outward cleanliness and inward corruption.

 

Tradition dictated that Jews could not eat until they washed their hands.  That is not a bad idea.  Jewish tradition demands a washing of all implements.  Again that seems obvious.

 

When the disciples did not follow tradition, the Jewish leaders demanded to know why.

 

Jesus response was, “Isaiah prophesied concerning you hypocrites, ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.’ In vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines of God the commandments of men. Laying aside the commandment of God, you uphold the tradition of men, such as the washing of pots and cups.”

 

Christ also told them, “You reject the commandment of God, so that you may keep your own tradition. Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother and, whoever curses his father or mother, let him die the death.’ But you say, ‘If a man shall say to his father or mother that it is a gift (to God), in order to by profit thereby, he shall be free from the obligation to his parents. And, you are not tolerant of father and mother.’  Such makes the word of God ineffective.”

 

Then, Jesus said, “Listen to Me and understand. There is nothing on the outside of a man that defiles him as he eats, however those things that come from within may defile.

 

“If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.”

 

Hearing demanded a positive response!  Those who do not respond in a positive manner to the message of Christ have not properly heard His message!

 

Mark 7:17-23
17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;
19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

 

When the disciples asked Jesus about the parable, He asked them, “Do you also have no understanding? Don’t you perceive that whatsoever a person eats cannot defile him. Because it does not enter his heart, but goes into the stomach, is physically digested and is purged. However, the things that come out of a man’s heart may defile him, because, out of the heart of men, come such things as evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness.  All those evil things come from within, and defile the man.”

 

Mark 7: 24-30

24 And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.

25 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:

26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.

27 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.

28 And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.

29 And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.

30 And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

 

After that, Jesus went to the area of Tyre and Sidon, so the public could not find Him.  But, it was not to be.

 

A Syro-Phoenician woman came to Him. Her daughter had an unclean spirit. When she found Christ, she bowed at his feet. The woman then asked if He would cast the demon out of her daughter.

 

Jesus was sent only to Israel (Matthew 15:24), and His response reflected His mission!

 

He said, “First, let the children first be filled, because it is not proper to take the children's bread, and throw it to dogs!”

 

But she said, “I agree Lord, however, even the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs!”

 

Jesus respected her answer and said, “Because of your response, go home in peace the devil is gone out of thy daughter.”

 

And, when she got home, she found the devil had left her daughter, and her daughter was healed.

 

Mark 7:31-37
31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.
33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;
37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

 

At that, Jesus left the area of Tyre and Sidon, and returned to the Sea of Galilee, in the area of Decapolis.

 

The people there brought Him a man who was deaf, and had a speech impediment. They asked Him simply to put his hand on that man.

 

Jesus took him aside, put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue. Then, looking up to heaven, He “sighed” (Gr. estenaxen-estenaxen), or prayed inaudibly and said, “Ephphatha.”

 

Ephphatha (Gr. ephphatha-effaqa) is an Aramaic word). It means be opened in the sense of receiving the power to hear.  Those who are deaf have great difficulty speaking because they cannot hear. Good speaking requires good hearing. So it is with spiritual things.  They require the God given gift to hear.

 

“Straightway” (eutheoos-euqewV/instantly) his ears were opened, his tongue was loosened from it bondage, and he clearly spoke.

 

Jesus ordered them present not to tell about it. But how could they not tell that their friend who formerly was deaf and could not speak clearly can now hear and speak? So, they told anyone who would listen.  Those that knew the man were astonished! 

 

They said, “Jesus has done all things well! He made the deaf man to hear and speak!”

 

Chapter 8
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