‏ Mark 7

The Tradition of the Elders and True Defilement

This section tells how some Pharisees and teachers of the law from Jerusalem came to question Jesus. They were upset that Jesus’ disciples did not follow the traditional Jewish rules about washing hands before eating. Jesus uses this moment to teach an important lesson: what makes a person truly clean or unclean is not what they eat or their traditions, but what is in their heart. He challenges the religious leaders for caring more about human rules than about God’s commands.

v. 1: Some Pharisees and scribes come from Jerusalem to see Jesus. These were important religious teachers. They are watching Jesus and his disciples closely, looking for reasons to criticize them.

v. 2: They notice that some of Jesus’ disciples eat their food with “defiled” hands, meaning they do not wash them according to Jewish tradition. In Jewish custom, washing hands before eating was not just for cleanliness—it was a religious rule meant to show purity.

v. 3–4: The Pharisees and all the Jews follow many traditions handed down by their elders. They always wash their hands carefully before eating. When they return from the marketplace, they wash themselves before eating. They also follow many other customs, such as washing cups, pots, and kettles. These rules are not from the Bible but from traditions added by religious leaders over time.

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v. 5: The Pharisees and scribes ask Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?” They are more concerned about following human traditions than about the true meaning behind God’s law.

v. 6–7: Jesus answers them by quoting the prophet Isaiah: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules’ (Isaiah 29:13 ^a). He says that outward actions are useless if the heart is not right with God.

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v. 8–9: Jesus tells them they have let go of God’s commands and are holding on to human traditions. He says they have a clever way of setting aside God’s law in order to keep their own rules. This shows that it is possible to look religious on the outside but not truly obey God.

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v. 10–13: Jesus gives an example. He reminds them of the commandment to honor your father and mother (Exodus 20:12 ^b). But some people say their money or possessions are “Corban” (a gift dedicated to God), so they do not help their parents. Jesus says that by following this tradition, they cancel God’s command and make their tradition more important than God’s word.

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v. 14–16: Jesus calls the crowd to him and says, “Nothing outside a person can make them unclean by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that makes them unclean.” He teaches that true purity is about the heart, not about food or rituals.

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v. 17–19: After leaving the crowd, Jesus’ disciples ask him what he means. Jesus explains that food cannot make someone unclean in God’s eyes because it goes into the stomach and then out of the body. By saying this, Jesus declares that all foods are clean, and the food laws in the Old Testament no longer apply in the same way.

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v. 20–23: Jesus says, “What comes out of a person is what makes them unclean.” He lists evil thoughts and actions that come from inside—a person’s heart: sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. These are the things that truly make someone unclean before God, not what they eat or how they wash their hands.

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The Syrophenician Woman

This passage shows how Jesus sometimes chose to stay hidden, especially when he was outside Jewish areas. Even though he was famous in Galilee, he did not seek public attention or applause. Jesus went to the region near Tyre and Sidon and tried to stay quietly in a private house. However, his presence could not be hidden for long. This event teaches us that there are times to serve publicly and times to rest or withdraw. It also shows that Jesus’ compassion reached beyond Israel, especially when faith was shown.

v. 24: Jesus left Galilee and went to the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. This shows his humility. He did not seek praise or crowds. Sometimes, it is right to rest and avoid attention, even when you can do great things.

v. 25–26: Even though Jesus tried to stay hidden, he could not be kept secret. A woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him and came to Jesus. She was a Gentile, a Syrophenician by birth—not part of Israel and not a follower of Jewish religion. She fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter (Mark 7:26 ^c). Her humble and desperate faith shows us how to approach Jesus, especially when we need help for our loved ones.

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v. 27: Jesus replied, Let the children first be filled (Mark 7:27 ^d). He meant that his main mission was to the Jews, God’s chosen people. He compared the Gentiles to dogs, who do not sit at the family table. Sometimes, Jesus tests our faith before he answers. Still, his words hinted that the Gentiles would soon share in God’s blessings too.

v. 28: The woman answered, Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs (Mark 7:28 ^e). She agreed with Jesus but asked for just a little of his mercy—a "crumb" of his power. She did not demand special rights, only a small blessing. Her answer showed great faith and humility.

v. 29: Jesus said, For this saying, go your way; the demon has left your daughter (Mark 7:29 ^f). Her humble faith was rewarded. Jesus’ word was enough to heal her daughter, even from a distance. This encourages us to keep praying and trusting, even when answers seem slow.

v. 30: The woman went home and found her child resting peacefully, the demon gone (Mark 7:30 ^g). Jesus showed his power over evil spirits, even when he was not physically present. His mercy is not limited by place or distance.

The Cure of a Deaf and Dumb Person

Jesus did not stay long in one place. After healing the Syrophenician woman’s daughter, he left that area and traveled back toward the Sea of Galilee. He took a long route through the region of Decapolis, showing his willingness to go far to help people. This story is unique to Mark and shows Jesus’ compassion for those with disabilities. It also teaches us to be thankful for our ability to hear and speak, and to care for those who cannot.

v. 31: Jesus left the region near Tyre and Sidon and traveled through Decapolis, finally coming to the Sea of Galilee. He often moved from place to place, always looking for where he could do good next.

v. 32: Some people brought to Jesus a man who was deaf and had trouble speaking. They asked Jesus to lay his hand on him. This man could not hear or speak well, which made life very hard for him. The people who brought him showed faith by asking Jesus for help.

v. 33: Jesus took the man aside, away from the crowd. He did not want to make a show of the miracle. Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears and touched his tongue with his own spit. These actions were signs to show that Jesus himself was healing the man, not using magic or tricks.

v. 34: Jesus looked up to heaven and sighed. He wanted everyone to know that the power to heal comes from God. His sigh showed his compassion for human suffering and his understanding of the struggles people face. Then Jesus said, Ephphatha, which means, Be opened (Mark 7:34 ^h).

v. 35: Immediately, the man’s ears were opened, and his tongue was freed. He could hear and speak clearly. This miracle fulfilled the prophecy that the Messiah would make the deaf hear and the mute speak (Isaiah 35:5-6 ⁱ). It also shows how Jesus can open our hearts and minds to understand God’s word.

v. 36: Jesus told the people not to tell anyone about the miracle. He wanted to avoid fame and attention. But the more he told them to keep quiet, the more they spread the news. Sometimes people are so amazed by what Jesus does that they cannot keep it to themselves.

v. 37: Everyone who heard about the miracle was amazed. They said, He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak (Mark 7:37 ^j). Even those who did not believe in Jesus had to admit that he did good things, and he did them with kindness and humility.