Mark 7
Summary. In this chapter, the Lord Jesus continues His ministry. We see that He always traveled to proclaim the Gospel and show mercy. As He travels, He interacts with many people and leaders of the synagogues. The main point of this chapter is to show that the Lord Jesus first calls His people to come back to Him and to reveal that He is the way for all humanity to be saved. He has shown this by performing miracles not only for the Jews but also for the Gentiles. He calls all, and whoever answers will find Him at the end. 1) The Lord Jesus first confronts the Pharisees and the scribes about putting the traditions of men above the commandments of God. Also, remember that He calls them hypocrites because of the traditions of men; they use the traditions of men to control the commandments of God. 2) The Lord Jesus clearly tells people what defiles a person and separates the traditions of men from the commandments of God. People should follow the commandments of God, not the traditions of men. The Lord Jesus sets His people free from the traditions of men and tells them to come to follow the commandments of God. 3) The Lord Jesus travels to other regions to preach the Word of God to the lost sheep of Israel, and there He encounters a Gentile woman who humbles herself to the Lord Jesus for mercy. She comes with an honest heart seeking mercy, and mercy has been poured down on her, and that is because of her heart. 4) The Lord Jesus heals a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, in a different way than we have seen before, showing that from within the Lord Jesus has the cure of all diseases; the imperfect will be made perfect; from within the Lord Jesus can make it perfect. When He makes the imperfect to be perfect, He has already shown them whom they should come to follow; they must not stick with the traditions, but they must come and follow the righteous One. 5) The Lord Jesus shows mercy to all, Gentiles and Jews alike, and this can be seen clearly in this chapter.
[1]
And are gathered together to Him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, having come from Jerusalem,
[2]
And they had seen that some of His disciples ate the bread with defiled hands, that is unwashed.
[3]
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, unless they wash the hands diligently, do not eat, holding the tradition of the elders;
[4]
and from the market-place unless they wash, they eat not; and many other things there are, which they have received to hold: washings of cups, and pots, and brazen vessels.
[5]
And the Pharisees and the scribes questioned Him , Why Thy disciples do not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat the bread with defiled hands?
[6]
And He said to them, Well prophesied Isaiah concerning you hypocrites, as it is written:
This people honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is kept far fromMe .
But their heart is kept far from
[8]
Having neglected the commandment of God , you hold to the tradition of men.
[9]
And He said to them, Full well do you neglect the commandment of God , that you might keep your tradition.
[10]
For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother; and, the one speaking evil of father or mother, let him die the death;
[11]
however, you say, If a man may say to the father or the mother, Whatever you might be profited from me that is Corban (consecrated to God), a gift,
[12]
you no longer allow him to do anything for the father or the mother,
[13]
making void the word of God for your tradition, which you have handed down; and many such like you do.
Comments Mark 7:1-13
For Mark 7:1-13 see Comments Matthew 15:1-9.
Those of the old law the Lord Jesus has come to abolish. Instead of thinking of God, humans have changed their minds and now think of people’s eyes. People around them make them believe they are not holy enough, but remember, too, that the Lord sees the heart, not this flesh that melts away. The Lord is the Lord of the heart; worship the Lord with your heart. The tradition is man-made law. In the old times, the Pharisees had their way of controlling people, but this way is over with the coming of the Lord Jesus; the complete law has come; the Lord Jesus is the law now. As we have our own laws and rules, the one thing the Lord Jesus asks of all humans is to read the Word of God and obey it; this is the law for all humans. One Holy Book, the Bible with the Old Testament and the New Testament, is enough for mankind in every generation: only one book, not the tradition of many books of old times. The Old Testament establishes the base for worship and lets humans know how the Lord has been with humans. As the Old Testament tells us, the Lord has ordained His priests and prophets who have received the gift of hearing His Word. That is why the Old Testament is the basis of faith; you cannot read the New Testament without knowing the Old Testament at all. Meditating on the Old Testament strengthens one’s faith. The Old Law was established for the people before the Son of God was born on earth. The Old Law is the basis of faith in the Old Testament, but in the new generation, the New Testament is the law of the heart. The Word of God speaks to the heart, not traditions to be as law anymore, but the faith of the heart in the Lord Jesus is the law.
Passage analysis: Mark 7:1. See Comments Matthew 15:1.
Mark 7:2-4. This portion of Scripture is given only in the Gospel of Mark. This tradition of handwashing was a ritual of washing, and it had a certain way of doing. Nowadays, we wash our hands with water because we use the knowledge that God has given us to be clean before eating. But in the old times, it was a teaching from the elders, as a certain way to wash the hands. Those certain ways of washing hands were put as commandments of God, but the Lord Jesus has come to abolish them. The washing of hands, which the Pharisees and scribes observe, is clearly a tradition of men. There has never been any order like this from God, but the men put their own words as God’s words, which is wrong, and it is not what God wants. Cleaning hands is good, but putting it as God’s commandment, the basis of it is wrong; it can’t be accepted. Science teaches people to be clean, but the old tradition teaches people to clean their hands by using God to command it, which is the wrong way to do it. In the Bible, it is clear that they (Pharisees and the scribes) take the commandments of men as equal to the commandments of God, and that is wrong. However, if you research the tradition of washing and how it came about, you will see why it should no longer be used, because the Lord Jesus, who has cleansed all, has come down to earth. The tradition of washing at that time, you can find out the real meaning and why the Lord spoke against it. Science comes and looks at the word “defiled” and concludes that the old way of washing hands is wrong. The old way is not wrong, but taken as God’s commandment that is wrong; specifically, the way of washing the Lord does not pick on that. But people use science against this verse; science is good for cleaning hands, but the hidden meaning of washing, which we all forget to consider, can be found in the Bible. In the Bible, many passages talk about washing the whole body and changing garments. The Bible does not teach washing hands to clean any germs; instead, it teaches washing to cleanse from the unclean things a person has associated with, but not to cleanse from sins. The Bible is more concerned with association with the unclean. In the old times, by tradition, the washing was taken as a cut-off from the unclean from that moment on. When a person washes their hands, it cuts off, from that moment onward, what they will do after washing their hands from the unclean past, and that is what will be counted for (see Matthew 27:24 for an example of this tradition in this way).
Q: Why did the Lord command in the Old Testament the washing for cleansing from the unclean things? A: Because when a person has touched the unclean things, it is more like creating space between the person and the Lord. The Lord cannot be close to that person, or that person perishes. If the Lord comes close to that person, that person can perish if that person is unclean. The Lord has created water for a purpose, not just for drinking alone, but also for washing, to be clean from all things. The Lord has created all things for a reason, and water has many good uses. That is why we all do water baptism: the water plays a role here; it represents cleansing. Water flows out, the new water comes in, bringing cleansing even to nature itself. The rain comes down and replaces the old water; the rain pushes out the old water. The rain is from heaven above; many places in the Bible mention this.
Mark 7:5. See Comments Matthew 15:2.
Mark 7:6-7. See Comments Matthew 15:7-9.
Mark 7:8-13. See Comments Matthew 15:3-6.
If you do not fulfill your duties towards your parents, you will not fulfill them towards God either. The way to give to the Lord tells the purpose. The Word of God will speak to each individual differently in their hearts. That is why the Word of God is called the Living Word. Because each word speaks to each heart, all will never understand the same. Put ten people standing, reading one Bible verse out, and you will get ten meanings out because the Living Word speaks differently to each heart. That is the purpose of the Word of God: to speak to everyone according to each person’s heart. Each person will receive the Word of God in a different meaning.
Q: Why, in the Gospels, do the words spoken by the Lord Jesus differ in some respects, yet we say that the Bible is Holy Spirit-dictated? A: This question concerns the translation of the Word (see Comments Mark 4:35-41 about the difference between Holy Spirit dictated and inspired). The writer receives specific words to put down because all are dictated, what it should put down, by the Holy Spirit. Each writer of the Gospel does not put their own understanding in; the writer receives a straight understanding; no thinking from their own is written down. This writer writes this verse, another writer writes a different verse; each writer has their own purpose. The Lord speaks to each of them, and each writer records as their heart tells; the Holy Spirit, who speaks in the heart, gives the understanding to the writer in that moment according to the will of the Lord. The voice of the Holy Spirit in the heart will tell what the writer should understand. The content might be a little bit different from writer to writer, but there will never be a different meaning; anyone can check it out. Each writer has the Holy Spirit in the heart, and even if they use their heart to understand, who is the One who leads that heart? This is the key: the Holy Spirit will give the Word to be put in each Gospel; a little bit different for a purpose, but no meaning changed. Don’t forget, as well, the Lord speaks today here, the next day there; the same thing the Lord speaks again and again, so the degree of meaning can be slightly different on each day that happens. Not everything that the Lord Jesus did on earth happened in one day; on one page of the Bible, how many days could be covered? That is why the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke use slightly different wording, but all convey the same meaning.
Those of the old law the Lord Jesus has come to abolish. Instead of thinking of God, humans have changed their minds and now think of people’s eyes. People around them make them believe they are not holy enough, but remember, too, that the Lord sees the heart, not this flesh that melts away. The Lord is the Lord of the heart; worship the Lord with your heart. The tradition is man-made law. In the old times, the Pharisees had their way of controlling people, but this way is over with the coming of the Lord Jesus; the complete law has come; the Lord Jesus is the law now. As we have our own laws and rules, the one thing the Lord Jesus asks of all humans is to read the Word of God and obey it; this is the law for all humans. One Holy Book, the Bible with the Old Testament and the New Testament, is enough for mankind in every generation: only one book, not the tradition of many books of old times. The Old Testament establishes the base for worship and lets humans know how the Lord has been with humans. As the Old Testament tells us, the Lord has ordained His priests and prophets who have received the gift of hearing His Word. That is why the Old Testament is the basis of faith; you cannot read the New Testament without knowing the Old Testament at all. Meditating on the Old Testament strengthens one’s faith. The Old Law was established for the people before the Son of God was born on earth. The Old Law is the basis of faith in the Old Testament, but in the new generation, the New Testament is the law of the heart. The Word of God speaks to the heart, not traditions to be as law anymore, but the faith of the heart in the Lord Jesus is the law.
Passage analysis: Mark 7:1. See Comments Matthew 15:1.
Mark 7:2-4. This portion of Scripture is given only in the Gospel of Mark. This tradition of handwashing was a ritual of washing, and it had a certain way of doing. Nowadays, we wash our hands with water because we use the knowledge that God has given us to be clean before eating. But in the old times, it was a teaching from the elders, as a certain way to wash the hands. Those certain ways of washing hands were put as commandments of God, but the Lord Jesus has come to abolish them. The washing of hands, which the Pharisees and scribes observe, is clearly a tradition of men. There has never been any order like this from God, but the men put their own words as God’s words, which is wrong, and it is not what God wants. Cleaning hands is good, but putting it as God’s commandment, the basis of it is wrong; it can’t be accepted. Science teaches people to be clean, but the old tradition teaches people to clean their hands by using God to command it, which is the wrong way to do it. In the Bible, it is clear that they (Pharisees and the scribes) take the commandments of men as equal to the commandments of God, and that is wrong. However, if you research the tradition of washing and how it came about, you will see why it should no longer be used, because the Lord Jesus, who has cleansed all, has come down to earth. The tradition of washing at that time, you can find out the real meaning and why the Lord spoke against it. Science comes and looks at the word “defiled” and concludes that the old way of washing hands is wrong. The old way is not wrong, but taken as God’s commandment that is wrong; specifically, the way of washing the Lord does not pick on that. But people use science against this verse; science is good for cleaning hands, but the hidden meaning of washing, which we all forget to consider, can be found in the Bible. In the Bible, many passages talk about washing the whole body and changing garments. The Bible does not teach washing hands to clean any germs; instead, it teaches washing to cleanse from the unclean things a person has associated with, but not to cleanse from sins. The Bible is more concerned with association with the unclean. In the old times, by tradition, the washing was taken as a cut-off from the unclean from that moment on. When a person washes their hands, it cuts off, from that moment onward, what they will do after washing their hands from the unclean past, and that is what will be counted for (see Matthew 27:24 for an example of this tradition in this way).
Q: Why did the Lord command in the Old Testament the washing for cleansing from the unclean things? A: Because when a person has touched the unclean things, it is more like creating space between the person and the Lord. The Lord cannot be close to that person, or that person perishes. If the Lord comes close to that person, that person can perish if that person is unclean. The Lord has created water for a purpose, not just for drinking alone, but also for washing, to be clean from all things. The Lord has created all things for a reason, and water has many good uses. That is why we all do water baptism: the water plays a role here; it represents cleansing. Water flows out, the new water comes in, bringing cleansing even to nature itself. The rain comes down and replaces the old water; the rain pushes out the old water. The rain is from heaven above; many places in the Bible mention this.
Mark 7:5. See Comments Matthew 15:2.
Mark 7:6-7. See Comments Matthew 15:7-9.
Mark 7:8-13. See Comments Matthew 15:3-6.
If you do not fulfill your duties towards your parents, you will not fulfill them towards God either. The way to give to the Lord tells the purpose. The Word of God will speak to each individual differently in their hearts. That is why the Word of God is called the Living Word. Because each word speaks to each heart, all will never understand the same. Put ten people standing, reading one Bible verse out, and you will get ten meanings out because the Living Word speaks differently to each heart. That is the purpose of the Word of God: to speak to everyone according to each person’s heart. Each person will receive the Word of God in a different meaning.
Q: Why, in the Gospels, do the words spoken by the Lord Jesus differ in some respects, yet we say that the Bible is Holy Spirit-dictated? A: This question concerns the translation of the Word (see Comments Mark 4:35-41 about the difference between Holy Spirit dictated and inspired). The writer receives specific words to put down because all are dictated, what it should put down, by the Holy Spirit. Each writer of the Gospel does not put their own understanding in; the writer receives a straight understanding; no thinking from their own is written down. This writer writes this verse, another writer writes a different verse; each writer has their own purpose. The Lord speaks to each of them, and each writer records as their heart tells; the Holy Spirit, who speaks in the heart, gives the understanding to the writer in that moment according to the will of the Lord. The voice of the Holy Spirit in the heart will tell what the writer should understand. The content might be a little bit different from writer to writer, but there will never be a different meaning; anyone can check it out. Each writer has the Holy Spirit in the heart, and even if they use their heart to understand, who is the One who leads that heart? This is the key: the Holy Spirit will give the Word to be put in each Gospel; a little bit different for a purpose, but no meaning changed. Don’t forget, as well, the Lord speaks today here, the next day there; the same thing the Lord speaks again and again, so the degree of meaning can be slightly different on each day that happens. Not everything that the Lord Jesus did on earth happened in one day; on one page of the Bible, how many days could be covered? That is why the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke use slightly different wording, but all convey the same meaning.
[14]
And having called to Him the multitude again, He said to them, Listen to Me , all, and understand:
[15]
there is nothing from without the man, entering into him, which is able to defile him; but the things proceeding out of the man are those defiling the man.
[16]
If any person has ears to hear, let him hear.
[18]
And He says to them, Are you so without understanding also? Perceive you not, that all entering from outside into the man, it cannot defile him;
[19]
because it enters not into his heart, but into the belly, and goes out into the draught? Purifying all the food.
[20]
Now He said, That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man.
[21]
For from within the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries,
[22]
covetous desires, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, slander, pride, foolishness;
[23]
all these evils proceed from within, and defile the man.
Comments Mark 7:14-23
For Mark 7:14-23 see Comments Matthew 15:10-20. Note that Matthew 15:12-14 does not have a direct correspondence to a passage in Mark.
Within your soul, you cannot be cleansed with water; your soul can be cleansed only by being baptized in water in the name of the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit, and by confessing your sins and believing that the blood of the Lord Jesus can cleanse your sins. By believing alone, you make the cross incomplete; you must be baptized in water as well for the forgiveness of sins. The criminal on the cross was baptized with the Word of the Lord Jesus, which is more powerful than water. The Holy Son Himself has also been baptized in water; how much more must humans follow the example of the Lord Jesus? As the verse says, “from within the heart of men,” the sins come out, but you are cleansed from within when your mouth confesses the sins and receives the forgiveness to fill up the space in your soul when the soul releases the sins out of the heart. When the soul releases the sins out of it, it needs to be filled with the Word of God; only the Word of God can fill the soul.
Comparison Analysis Mark 7:14-16, Matthew 5:10-11. Mark and Matthew have different ways of writing the content, but it gives the same meaning.
Mark 7:16. You cannot add or take away verses from the Bible, but this verse was in the original manuscript, and it should be in the Bible.
Mark 7:17, Matthew 15:15. Matthew 15:15 seems to have a different meaning because it mentions Peter, but the word “disciples” in Mark 7:17 also includes him, so you can just say “disciples” or use a specific name and get the same meaning; we shouldn’t worry about this.
Mark 7:18-19, Matthew 15:16-17. In Mark 7:19, we have additional information at the end of the verse: “Purifying all the food.” However, people can omit some food as an offering to the Lord; for example, omitting some meat for sacrifice is acceptable. Some are omitting something for worshiping purposes, and this is nothing against the teaching; it is acceptable as well.
Mark 7:20-23, Matthew 15:18-20. There are more sinful acts enumerated in Mark, but the meaning of these passages of Scripture is the same. Not all the sins have been mentioned either; there will not be enough room to list and enumerate all the sins humans commit. The Lord does not keep account of all the sins humans commit. If the Lord accounts them all, all humans would be gone. Because of the blood of the Lord Jesus shed on the cross, the sins are not counted for the one who believes. When humans accept His beloved Son, the majority of sins (except the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit) have been covered with His blood.
In the Gospel of Matthew, when Matthew records a portion, Mark will come to continue; this doesn’t mean adding or deleting, but rather making it complete; not adding or taking away, but in every Gospel, they support each other to be complete. For us, it does not mean that we read the Gospel of Matthew and finish the Gospel; we also need to read other Gospels to support what Matthew has recorded; for example, Mark may add extra information to give the passage a complete meaning. The Lord encourages us to read all the Gospels, not just one; the Bible is one book.
Within your soul, you cannot be cleansed with water; your soul can be cleansed only by being baptized in water in the name of the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit, and by confessing your sins and believing that the blood of the Lord Jesus can cleanse your sins. By believing alone, you make the cross incomplete; you must be baptized in water as well for the forgiveness of sins. The criminal on the cross was baptized with the Word of the Lord Jesus, which is more powerful than water. The Holy Son Himself has also been baptized in water; how much more must humans follow the example of the Lord Jesus? As the verse says, “from within the heart of men,” the sins come out, but you are cleansed from within when your mouth confesses the sins and receives the forgiveness to fill up the space in your soul when the soul releases the sins out of the heart. When the soul releases the sins out of it, it needs to be filled with the Word of God; only the Word of God can fill the soul.
Comparison Analysis Mark 7:14-16, Matthew 5:10-11. Mark and Matthew have different ways of writing the content, but it gives the same meaning.
Mark 7:16. You cannot add or take away verses from the Bible, but this verse was in the original manuscript, and it should be in the Bible.
Mark 7:17, Matthew 15:15. Matthew 15:15 seems to have a different meaning because it mentions Peter, but the word “disciples” in Mark 7:17 also includes him, so you can just say “disciples” or use a specific name and get the same meaning; we shouldn’t worry about this.
Mark 7:18-19, Matthew 15:16-17. In Mark 7:19, we have additional information at the end of the verse: “Purifying all the food.” However, people can omit some food as an offering to the Lord; for example, omitting some meat for sacrifice is acceptable. Some are omitting something for worshiping purposes, and this is nothing against the teaching; it is acceptable as well.
Mark 7:20-23, Matthew 15:18-20. There are more sinful acts enumerated in Mark, but the meaning of these passages of Scripture is the same. Not all the sins have been mentioned either; there will not be enough room to list and enumerate all the sins humans commit. The Lord does not keep account of all the sins humans commit. If the Lord accounts them all, all humans would be gone. Because of the blood of the Lord Jesus shed on the cross, the sins are not counted for the one who believes. When humans accept His beloved Son, the majority of sins (except the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit) have been covered with His blood.
In the Gospel of Matthew, when Matthew records a portion, Mark will come to continue; this doesn’t mean adding or deleting, but rather making it complete; not adding or taking away, but in every Gospel, they support each other to be complete. For us, it does not mean that we read the Gospel of Matthew and finish the Gospel; we also need to read other Gospels to support what Matthew has recorded; for example, Mark may add extra information to give the passage a complete meaning. The Lord encourages us to read all the Gospels, not just one; the Bible is one book.
[24]
And from there He arose, and went away into the region of Tyre and Sidon. And having entered into a house, He was wishing no one to know it; and He could not be hid.
[25]
But straightaway a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard about Him , having come, fell down at His feet.
[26]
Now the woman was a Greek, Syrophoenician by race, and kept asking Him that He would cast the demon out of her daughter.
[27]
And He said to her, Let the children first be filled; for it is not proper to take the children’s bread and cast it to the dogs.
[28]
But she answered and says to Him , Yes, Lord ; even the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.
[29]
And He said to her, Because of this saying depart; the demon has gone out of your daughter.
[30]
And having gone away to her home, she found the child laid on the bed, and the demon gone out.
Comments Mark 7:24-30
For Mark 7:24-30 see Comments Matthew 15:21-28.
These passages of Scripture both present the same healing event, showing the faith of this Syrophoenician woman.
Comparison Analysis Mark 7:24a, Matthew 15:21. These verses show that the Lord Jesus went to the region of Tyre and Sidon (see Comments Matthew 15:21).
Mark 7:24b. In this place, we can clearly see that the Lord Jesus is tired. However, He knows ahead of time that this woman will come, but the Lord did not change where He will be; He did not change the plan for where He will stay. In the verse, we can notice the word “hid.” When the Lord is tired, He wants to be alone to pray, but His mercy for humans is more important than His feelings. For showing mercy to this woman, He let her know where He is, and she comes to Him with her problems. All humans should do the same: come to the Lord Jesus with all our problems. Here, the Lord is tired, but He receives her, and the Lord will do the same for all. Come unto the Lord, the invitation is out; you can walk, pass by, or stop by, it is your own choice.
Mark 7:25-26, Matthew 15:22. These verses in Mark and Matthew describe similar outcomes but in different words. The common thing is that a Gentile woman comes to the Lord Jesus to ask for mercy to heal her daughter, who had an unclean spirit. In Matthew, it is written that this woman has come to the Lord Jesus, saying, “Lord, Son of David,” while in Mark, it is written that this woman “having come, fell down at His feet.”
Matthew 15:23. This verse in Matthew does not have a corresponding verse in Mark. See Comments Matthew 15:23.
Mark 7:27a, Matthew 15:24. Both verses show that the Lord Jesus answers the woman. In Matthew, He tells her that He was sent to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel,” and in Mark, He says to her, “Let the children first be filled,” which both have the same meaning (see Comments Matthew 15:24).
Mark 7:25b, Matthew 15:25. Sometimes it tells the same thing in a different spot of the verse or section, but when you bring all of them together, the meaning is complete. These verses show that the woman was submissive (see Comments Matthew 15:25).
Mark 7:27b, Matthew 15:26. These verses give the same meaning. Notice the word used here for the Gentiles: “dogs.” Do not be offended by this word; read Comments Matthew 15:26. Here, in Mark, we will add a little bit further. All should consider that the “dog” is the Lord Jesus’ servant; as the Lord Jesus goes, the “dog” will follow. The Lord Jesus has many Gentiles who have faith in Him and follow Him, not just the Jews. The “dog” is also a witness of the Lord’s mercy, because the Lord always keeps the dog at His side; be a dog, but be treated as a child of God. The best the Lord gives to His children falls under the table for the “dogs,” and they will eat the best food as well, which no one else has; it is only for the “dog.” If you accept being the “dog” of the Lord, you will stay under the table and will always receive the best that falls from the Lord’s children’s table. Keep in mind that bread here represents the Lord Jesus’ mercy and grace.
Mark 7:28, Matthew 15:27. These verses have the same meaning (see Comments Matthew 15:27).
Mark 7:29-30, Matthew 15:28. These passages of Scripture tell us that the Lord commends the woman’s faith and He heals her daughter. Both Matthew and Mark may present different statements, but the same result follows: by the will of the Lord, the child is healed. The Lord Jesus was not there, where the child was, but distance is not a problem for the Lord, and by the will of the Lord all things are done. Pay attention to the main thing the Lord has said here. Don’t try to think about differences in sentences; pay attention only to the meaning of the statements.
These passages of Scripture both present the same healing event, showing the faith of this Syrophoenician woman.
Comparison Analysis Mark 7:24a, Matthew 15:21. These verses show that the Lord Jesus went to the region of Tyre and Sidon (see Comments Matthew 15:21).
Mark 7:24b. In this place, we can clearly see that the Lord Jesus is tired. However, He knows ahead of time that this woman will come, but the Lord did not change where He will be; He did not change the plan for where He will stay. In the verse, we can notice the word “hid.” When the Lord is tired, He wants to be alone to pray, but His mercy for humans is more important than His feelings. For showing mercy to this woman, He let her know where He is, and she comes to Him with her problems. All humans should do the same: come to the Lord Jesus with all our problems. Here, the Lord is tired, but He receives her, and the Lord will do the same for all. Come unto the Lord, the invitation is out; you can walk, pass by, or stop by, it is your own choice.
Mark 7:25-26, Matthew 15:22. These verses in Mark and Matthew describe similar outcomes but in different words. The common thing is that a Gentile woman comes to the Lord Jesus to ask for mercy to heal her daughter, who had an unclean spirit. In Matthew, it is written that this woman has come to the Lord Jesus, saying, “Lord, Son of David,” while in Mark, it is written that this woman “having come, fell down at His feet.”
Matthew 15:23. This verse in Matthew does not have a corresponding verse in Mark. See Comments Matthew 15:23.
Mark 7:27a, Matthew 15:24. Both verses show that the Lord Jesus answers the woman. In Matthew, He tells her that He was sent to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel,” and in Mark, He says to her, “Let the children first be filled,” which both have the same meaning (see Comments Matthew 15:24).
Mark 7:25b, Matthew 15:25. Sometimes it tells the same thing in a different spot of the verse or section, but when you bring all of them together, the meaning is complete. These verses show that the woman was submissive (see Comments Matthew 15:25).
Mark 7:27b, Matthew 15:26. These verses give the same meaning. Notice the word used here for the Gentiles: “dogs.” Do not be offended by this word; read Comments Matthew 15:26. Here, in Mark, we will add a little bit further. All should consider that the “dog” is the Lord Jesus’ servant; as the Lord Jesus goes, the “dog” will follow. The Lord Jesus has many Gentiles who have faith in Him and follow Him, not just the Jews. The “dog” is also a witness of the Lord’s mercy, because the Lord always keeps the dog at His side; be a dog, but be treated as a child of God. The best the Lord gives to His children falls under the table for the “dogs,” and they will eat the best food as well, which no one else has; it is only for the “dog.” If you accept being the “dog” of the Lord, you will stay under the table and will always receive the best that falls from the Lord’s children’s table. Keep in mind that bread here represents the Lord Jesus’ mercy and grace.
Mark 7:28, Matthew 15:27. These verses have the same meaning (see Comments Matthew 15:27).
Mark 7:29-30, Matthew 15:28. These passages of Scripture tell us that the Lord commends the woman’s faith and He heals her daughter. Both Matthew and Mark may present different statements, but the same result follows: by the will of the Lord, the child is healed. The Lord Jesus was not there, where the child was, but distance is not a problem for the Lord, and by the will of the Lord all things are done. Pay attention to the main thing the Lord has said here. Don’t try to think about differences in sentences; pay attention only to the meaning of the statements.
[31]
And again having departed from the region of Tyre, He came through Sidon, to the Sea of Galilee through the midst of the region of Decapolis.
[32]
And they bring to Him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they implored Him that He might lay the hand on him.
[33]
And having taken him aside from the multitude privately, He put His fingers into his ears, and having spit, He touched his tongue;
[34]
and looking up to heaven, He sighed, and says to him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
[35]
And his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.
[36]
And He instructed them that they should tell no one; however, the more He instructed them, the more abundantly they were proclaiming it.
[37]
And they were above measure astonished, saying, He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear, and the mute to speak.
Comments Mark 7:31-37
As verse 31 tells us, the healing of this man occurs sometime after the Lord Jesus returns from the region of Tyre.
Passage Analysis
Mark 7:31. This verse shows that the Lord Jesus always travels.
Mark 7:32. The man wanted to come to the Lord, but people also had different purposes. The man himself wanted to be healed, but the people who brought him wanted to see proof of what they had been hearing about the Lord Jesus.
Mark 7:33. Q: Why was the healing of this man done privately? A: The people do not need to see how the Lord does the healing; they just need to see the result. The proof is that the man was healed. People talk about what the Lord can do, but now people can see what the Lord can do; let them see the result, but not the way it is done. Q: This man’s healing is quite different here; why is that? A: Each thing has its own meaning. When the Lord Jesus put His fingers to the man’s ears, by His touch, the man’s ears were opened. Then, when He spat on His hand and touched the man’s tongue, a portion of the Lord Jesus healed the man. From within the Lord Jesus, there is a cure for all diseases. The imperfect will be made perfect, because from within the Lord can make it perfect; this is the proof: whatever comes out of the Lord is much more than medicine. You can say this way: make the imperfect become perfect; from within the Lord Himself, all things are perfect. The man has received the everlasting medicine: the Lord’s saliva. The Lord spat on His finger, then He touched with his spit the man’s tongue.
Mark 7:34. “And looking up to heaven, He sighed.” This verse shows that the Lord Jesus has communication with the Father. When the Lord Jesus looks up to heaven, He sees His entire home; however, human eyes see only the sky. The Lord Jesus has communication with the Father, and the will of the Father for the man to be healed has been proven; the mercy has been poured down. People should remember that the Lord Jesus first communicates with the Father, and then the mercy has been poured down, that is, the mercy of the Father. People picture the Father in the wrong way. The Father is gentle and merciful beyond what the human mind can imagine. The proof is in the death of His Son for all humans; how much more mercy does the Father need to show for the disobedient humans? He gave His own Son for the things He created. All humans should remember who we are: we are just dust of the earth, but a dust that Father loves; the proof is in the Bible.
“And says to him, Ephphatha” (pronounced aafata). Now, the Lord Jesus used the word the Father has said, “by My mercy be opened.” Pay attention to the term “be opened”; it means it has been closed. That is why the Lord Jesus put His spit to create the bridge between the human body and the Lord. The human body is from the Lord, and through His spit, the man’s body was connected to the Lord and was healed.
Mark 7:35. Also, the Lord gave this man a gift. The man who never spoke—think of babies learning to speak—spoke plainly, not baby talk; this is a gift.
Mark 7:36. “The more He instructed them,” meaning He instructed the multitude. Q: Why did the Lord Jesus instruct the multitudes not to speak about the healings? A: The Lord Jesus did not come to be famous. He came only to show mercy. Therefore, the Lord does not want people to come to Him with the wrong ideas; specifically, come only to receive something. The Lord wants them to come for His Word, because they heard and believed, rather than coming to witness miraculous events. See also Comments Matthew 12:16.
Mark 7:37. The meaning of this verse is clear. Amen!
Passage Analysis
Mark 7:31. This verse shows that the Lord Jesus always travels.
Mark 7:32. The man wanted to come to the Lord, but people also had different purposes. The man himself wanted to be healed, but the people who brought him wanted to see proof of what they had been hearing about the Lord Jesus.
Mark 7:33. Q: Why was the healing of this man done privately? A: The people do not need to see how the Lord does the healing; they just need to see the result. The proof is that the man was healed. People talk about what the Lord can do, but now people can see what the Lord can do; let them see the result, but not the way it is done. Q: This man’s healing is quite different here; why is that? A: Each thing has its own meaning. When the Lord Jesus put His fingers to the man’s ears, by His touch, the man’s ears were opened. Then, when He spat on His hand and touched the man’s tongue, a portion of the Lord Jesus healed the man. From within the Lord Jesus, there is a cure for all diseases. The imperfect will be made perfect, because from within the Lord can make it perfect; this is the proof: whatever comes out of the Lord is much more than medicine. You can say this way: make the imperfect become perfect; from within the Lord Himself, all things are perfect. The man has received the everlasting medicine: the Lord’s saliva. The Lord spat on His finger, then He touched with his spit the man’s tongue.
Mark 7:34. “And looking up to heaven, He sighed.” This verse shows that the Lord Jesus has communication with the Father. When the Lord Jesus looks up to heaven, He sees His entire home; however, human eyes see only the sky. The Lord Jesus has communication with the Father, and the will of the Father for the man to be healed has been proven; the mercy has been poured down. People should remember that the Lord Jesus first communicates with the Father, and then the mercy has been poured down, that is, the mercy of the Father. People picture the Father in the wrong way. The Father is gentle and merciful beyond what the human mind can imagine. The proof is in the death of His Son for all humans; how much more mercy does the Father need to show for the disobedient humans? He gave His own Son for the things He created. All humans should remember who we are: we are just dust of the earth, but a dust that Father loves; the proof is in the Bible.
“And says to him, Ephphatha” (pronounced aafata). Now, the Lord Jesus used the word the Father has said, “by My mercy be opened.” Pay attention to the term “be opened”; it means it has been closed. That is why the Lord Jesus put His spit to create the bridge between the human body and the Lord. The human body is from the Lord, and through His spit, the man’s body was connected to the Lord and was healed.
Mark 7:35. Also, the Lord gave this man a gift. The man who never spoke—think of babies learning to speak—spoke plainly, not baby talk; this is a gift.
Mark 7:36. “The more He instructed them,” meaning He instructed the multitude. Q: Why did the Lord Jesus instruct the multitudes not to speak about the healings? A: The Lord Jesus did not come to be famous. He came only to show mercy. Therefore, the Lord does not want people to come to Him with the wrong ideas; specifically, come only to receive something. The Lord wants them to come for His Word, because they heard and believed, rather than coming to witness miraculous events. See also Comments Matthew 12:16.
Mark 7:37. The meaning of this verse is clear. Amen!
Life and Faith Applications. 1) Sins and evils do not cling to the outside of our bodies, like our skin, but instead attach themselves to our hearts. Therefore, while washing with water does not provide true cleansing and protection, washing with the blood of the Lord Jesus does. 2) Do not be offended by the term “dog” used here to refer to the Gentiles. 3) Come to the Lord Jesus with all the problems you have; come to the Lord, the invitation is out; you can walk, pass by, or stop by; it is your own choice. 4) Do not come to the Lord Jesus for the show and to test and see what miracles He can do, but come to Him with a sincere heart and beg for His mercy, and then you will find Him. Amen!