Mark 7
-The Lord’s teaching on inner purity continues in this
seventh chapter of the book. Scribes and Pharisees who had come from Jerusalem
noticed that the disciples of Jesus were not following their man made
traditions of hand washing and cleansing before they ate their bread. Jesus
spoke from the prophet Isaiah to address this issue, “This people honors Me
with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. But in vain do they worship
Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men (Isaiah 29:13, Mark 7:1-7).” He
went on to make a point on the fact that they often set aside the clear
commandment of God to hold to their religious traditions. The case He used here
was in regards to taking care of parents in an honorary way for Corban (given
to God). They invalidated the Word of God with their man made traditions handed
down as false worship. Jesus enlightened them that there were many such things
like this in Judaism (Mark 7:8-13). He continued with a lesson that He wanted
everyone to listen carefully to and understand. Nothing outside the body
defiles a person, but the things that proceed out of them is what defiles them.
Later, His disciples questioned Him on what appeared to be a new teaching in
regards to their faith. Jesus admonished them for lacking understanding in this
instance. Things that go into the body go through the stomach are eliminated.
Thus, He declared all foods clean in the sight of God as it pertains to
salvation and relationship with Him. What He was getting at was the heart. He
taught, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For
from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications,
thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as
deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these things
proceed from within and defile the man (Mark 7:14-23).”
-Jesus’ Kingdom mission headed north and east from there to
the region of Tyre and Sidon. He wanted to escape notice, but His popularity
and renown followed Him to these distant regions. He entered a house and had a woman,
who was a Gentile, entreat Him to heal her daughter of an unclean spirit. She
was persistent in her request to the point that it caused Jesus to make what
seemed like a rude statement. He was actually prophetically speaking and
testing when He commented, “Let the children (Jews) be satisfied first, for it
is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” He knew her
heart and what her response would be in His discernment. She kept making her
case that even the dogs are nourished from the scraps and that she was capable
of receiving blessing from the Almighty. Her answer impressed the Messiah, and
He healed her daughter. In faith she went back to find her child lying on the
bed and cleansed from the tormenting demons (Mark 7:24-30).
-He then came through Sidon, which was further north of
Tyre, before coming back over to the Sea of Galilee, within the region of the
Decapolis (ten cities). The people there brought Him one who was deaf and had
difficulty speaking. They implored Him to lay His Hands on him for healing.
Jesus, this time took him aside from the crowd by Himself and put His fingers
in the man’s ears. Then after spitting, He touched the deaf man’s tongue with
the saliva. Looking up to Heaven, with a deep sigh, He commanded, “Be opened!”
The man’s ears were opened, and he could both hear and speak plainly. The Lord
told them not to broadcast this event to anyone, but the more He ordered them,
the more widely they continued to proclaim His marvelous works. In astonishment
they were saying, “He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear
and the mute to speak (Mark 7:31-37).”
-*Application* When the inner man is well, the whole being
will be well spiritually speaking. Take care of your heart; it is the well
spring of life (Proverbs 4:23). Jesus is the only One that can change our
heart. We only need to look to Him to heal the brokenness in our lives. His
grace is always enough. Even the crumbs of His goodness provide all we’ll ever
need. He does all things well.
Verses to Memorize:
Mark 7:21-23, 37
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