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Mark Chapter
Seven
I. Content of the Chapter
The Teachings Concerning Purification of the
Bondman the Savior
A. To the evil criticizers ---- the Pharisees and some of
the scribes (v.1-13);
B. To the common people (v.14-16);
C. To His disciples (v.17-23);
The Service of the Bondman the Savior Among the
Gentiles
A. Who cast off the demon in the daughter of
the Greek woman though only the power of His words (v.24-30);
B. Who healed the one who was deaf and had an impediment
in his speech through the actions
of “taking him aside, putting His fingers in his ears, and touching and saying” (v.31-37);
II. Verse by Verse commentary
Mark. 7:1 “Then the
Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from
YLT: “And gathered
together unto him are the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, having come
from
Literal Meaning:
“the Pharisees
and some of the scribes”, “the Pharisees” were those who emphasized the letters
of the law in Judaism and considered that they were “separated” (the meaning of
Pharisees) from others. “The scribes” were those who specially transcribed the
law and taught the law. The Jews usually called them “rabbi”. Most of the
scribes were Pharisees, but not all the Pharisees were scribes.
“Who were from
Spiritual Meaning:
“the scribes
and the Pharisees” symbolize all the religious believers all over the world,
including the formal Christians. “
Mark. 7:2 “Now
when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that
is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.”
YLT: “and having seen
certain of his disciples with defiled hands -- that is, unwashed -- eating
bread, they found fault;”
Literal Meaning:
“eat bread
with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault”, “defiled”
referred to the hands that had not been washed according to the religious
customs. The matter of “washing hands” that they kept was a religious ceremony,
which was not for the sake of cleanness.
“That is”, this was an explanation of
Mark for the customs of the Jews, and because the Gospel of Mark was written to
the Gentiles (please see the “introduction of the Gospel of Mark”).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
The
Christianity at present had accumulated many traditions in the past two
thousand years. However it is not obligatory for Christians to obey those
traditions.
2)
If
we stress on the outward regulations and ways, we may also become the “scribes
and Pharisees” in this age.
Mark. 7:3 “For
the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash
their hands in a
special way, holding the tradition of the elders.”
YLT: “for the
Pharisees, and all the Jews, if they do not wash the hands to the wrist, do not
eat, holding the tradition of the elders,”
Meaning of Words:
“elder”: a senior; “hold”: keep, use strength,
seize or retain; “in a special way”: with the fist;
The Background:
“the tradition
of the elders”, it referred to the annotations and extensions of the Law of
Moses by famous law-teachers throughout all ages. All of them were preserved in
an oral manner and were strictly kept by the Pharisees. According to the Law of
Moses, priests had to wash their hands and their feet before entering the
temple to serve (see Ex. 30:19). However, in the light of the supplementary
teachings preserved in oral, the commandment towards priests had been extended
to the sphere of the details of the common people’s life. For example, they had
to wash their hands before eating bread, lest they have touched unclean things
(such as dead body, dead cattle and unclean animals). The rabbis always said, “The
holy people (the people of
Literal Meaning:
“wash their
hands in a special way”, “wash… in a special way”, it meant that they immersed their
hands up to the wrist.
Mark. 7:4 “When they come from the
marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which
they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches. ”
YLT: “and, from the
market-place, if they do not baptize themselves, they do not eat; and many
other things there are that they received to hold, baptisms of cups, and pots,
and brazen vessels, and couches.”
Meaning of Words:
“wash”:
baptize; “washing”:
baptizing;
The Background:
there were three kinds of washings that the Pharisees have received and hold:
1. Washing
hands: to immerse one’s
hands until his wrists (see v.2-3);
2. Washing: to immerse one’s
whole body into water;
3. Washing substances: to
immerse utensils like cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches into water;
Literal Meaning:
“when they
come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash”. ---- They were
afraid that they might have touched the gentiles or some Jews having not kept
the customs that they themselves were defiled. Therefore, they had to be
cleaned through the process like washing before eating.
“They have received and hold”, the word “receive”
was usually used among the Jews in all their teachings, regulations, customs
and practices that were passed down generation from generation. The Apostle
Paul also used this word to when he mentioned the bread and cup (1Cor.11:23) as
well as the gospel (1Cor15:1) “received” from the Lord and
The word “washing” in this verse was the
same as the word “baptizing” in the original.
Mark. 7:5 “Then
the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk
according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread
with unwashed hands?" ”
YLT: “Then question
him do the Pharisees and the scribes, `Wherefore do thy disciples not walk
according to the tradition of the elders, but with unwashed hands do eat the
bread?'”
Mark. 7:6 “He
answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as
it is written: "This people honors Me with their
lips, But their heart is far from Me. ”
YLT: “and he
answering said to them -- `Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you, hypocrites,
as it hath been written, This people with the lips doth honor Me, and their
heart is far from Me;”
Meaning of Words: “hypocrites”: acting, performance;
The Background:
the background of the word “hypocrites” was that the actors on
stage at that time often spoke under masks to hide their true faces so as to
play an assumed character vividly.
Literal Meaning:
“well did
Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,” the words from verse 6 to 7 are quoted from
the Book of Isaiah (29:13). “Hypocrites” means their words discord with their
deeds.
“This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
There
have been hypocrites among God’s people since the ancient times. It is
especially so today.
2)
Hypocrisy
is not indeed bad but falsely good. However the false goodness is even worse.
3)
God
is a spirit, and who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (see John.
4:24). The most important thing in worshiping God is one’s heart, not the lips.
4)
The
Lord not only sits down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb. 1:3) but
also dwells in our hearts (Eph. 3:17). Therefore what the heavenly people
should pay attention to is not the outward ways but the inner real state (see
Rom. 2:28-29).
Mark. 7:7 “And in
vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the
commandments of men.' ”
YLT: “and in vain do
they worship Me, teaching teachings, commands of men;”
Literal Meaning: “teaching as doctrines the
commandment of men”, they fell into the condition that men’s opinions had replaced God’s will and men’s
views had been in place of
God’s revelation. What they really paid attention to was not what
had God spoken, but what
had men spoken.
“Worship Me”, it means honoring God and
emphasizing the fear of God or piety.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
The
amazing words passed by any spiritual man can never have the identical
authority with the word of God.
2)
It
can not satisfy the Lord’s hearts if one holds high any spiritual giant and
worships or serves according to his instructions.
3)
Those
that “say one thing but mean another thing” (see v.6) specially stress what men
think and speak, but ignore what God thinks and speaks. It’s no wonder in vain
they worship God.
4)
“In
vain they worship
Mark. 7:8 “For
laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men --the
washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do." ”
YLT: “for, having put
away the command of God, ye hold the tradition of men, baptisms of pots and
cups; and many other such like things ye do.'”
Literal Meaning:
because they “taught
as doctrines the commandment of men” (see v.7), men’s tradition treated higher
than God’s commandment. Moreover, they abolished the commandment of God by the
tradition of men. They had abandoned the commandment of God because of the
tradition of men.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
Today
many Christians and Catholics disregard much God’s word for the sake of keeping
the tradition of their assembly.
2)
If
men’s words were added to God’s word, men themselves might eventually
transgress the word of God.
3)
In
the eyes of the Lord, it is not serious to go against the teachings of
spiritual men and religionists (the tradition of the elders). It is indeed
serious to transgress the words of God (the commandment of God).
4)
What
Christians should obey is God’s words. Any doctrine or teaching should not
replace God’s words.
Mark. 7:9 “He
said to them, "All too well you reject the
commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.”
YLT: “And he said to
them, `Well do ye put away the command of God that your tradition ye may keep;”
Spiritual Meaning:
“men’s
religion” focuses on “men’s tradition” ---- the utterance of great men,
traditional views, vain customs and rigid tradition and etc, but forsakes “the
commandment of God” ---- the word of God, transient revelation, the spirit of
the truth and everlasting fresh enlightenment.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
If
men walk according to the outward customs, they may totally go against the
intrinsic meaning of “the word of God”.
2)
To
keep the tradition of men will finally cause men to forsake, skillfully, the
word of God.
Mark. 7:10 “For
Moses said, "Honor your father and your mother'; and, "He who curses
father or mother, let him be put to death.' ”
YLT: “for Moses said,
Honour thy father and thy mother; and, He who is speaking evil of father or
mother -- let him die the death;”
Meaning of Words: “honor”: respect; “curses”: speak evil of, insult, revile;
Literal Meaning:
“let him be
put to death.” ---- There are “die” and “death” in the original (let him die
the death) and the “die” means to be ended. The whole sentence means “by death,
let him die”.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
“Honor
your father and your mother”, it is the first commandment about interpersonal
relationship in the Ten Commandment. Parents, the origin of children, symbolize
that God is the origin of men. God’s intention is to let us honor God by
honoring one’s father and mother.
2)
He
who curses father or mother must have some problems with God and will fall into
spiritual death (see
3) He who honors God must honor his parents.
It is not the right attitude for believers to ignore family responsibilities on
the pretext of God’s word.
Mark. 7:11 “But
you say, "If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you
might have received from me is Corban"--' (that is, a gift to God),”
YLT: “and ye say, If
a man may say to father or to mother, Korban (that is, a gift), whatever thou
mayest be profited out of mine,”
The Background:
“Corban”, a
kind of dedication with a vow by devoting possessions, originated from Jephthah’s
vow (see Judge 11:29-40). Men had no right to draw on the substances that were
appointed by the owners as “Corban”. The problem was that such money was
allowed to be used for other purposes besides religion, and the one who devoted
could even take them for himself according to his own will. Therefore, the oath
of “Corban” had turned to a kind of artifice used by children to avoid the
obligatory responsibility for their parents according to the law.
Literal Meaning:
“Whatever
profit you might have received from me is Corban”, it meant that you could not
use them, for I had devoted them to God.
Mark. 7:12 “then
you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother,”
YLT: “and no more do
ye suffer him to do anything for his father or for his mother,”
The Background:
some unfilial
Judaic believers usually made use of lawful parries and vowed to dedicate his property
to the holy temple in order to evade the
responsibility of supporting parents. Moreover, they regarded themselves as the
supervisors of the property and still used the property as usual.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
Pay
what is God’s to God, and what is men’s to men. If someone covers his unfilial
behaviors by dedication, he had made use of religion to do evil or to cover his
evilness.
2)
The
glory of God is not established on the pain of others. Loving God and loving parents
are in complete accord. Religion and morality are inseparable.
3)
If
one does not love his brother whom he has seen, he will not love God whom he
has not seen. He that loves God loves also his brother (1John 4:21).
Mark. 7:13 “making the word of God of
no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you
do." ”
YLT: “setting aside
the word of God for your tradition that ye delivered; and many such like things
ye do.'”
Meaning of Words: “hand down”: surrender, transmit;
Literal Meaning:
“making the word of God of
no effect through your tradition which you have handed down”, the Pharisees
supported the pretext of “Corban” on the basis of the words in the
Scripture that one shall not break his word (see Num.30:2). Apparently, they
seemed to be rather right, for they “explained the scriptures through
scriptures” ---- to maintain the word of God through God’s word. However, the
Lord Jesus said that they “handed down their tradition”. Their faults lay in
that:
1. They
used a biblical teaching (one shall not break his word) to abolish another biblical
teaching (one shall honor his father and mother).
2. They
ignored the whole spirit of the Scripture, but caught only fragments of the
Scripture when they applied the biblical teachings.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
To
inherit men’s tradition may make “the word of God” of no effect. Therefore,
once we have become Christians, we shall not receive any men’s tradition,
conception or views, but spend our time reading the Scriptures well and keep the
word of God simply.
2)
If
any men’s interpretation on the Scriptures goes against the above-mentioned two
faults, it will be turned to “men’s tradition”. When we search spiritual
writings, if we are not watchful much, we may “make the word of God of no effect”
because of “tradition”.
3)
God
has made us competent, ministers of new covenant, not of letter, but of spirit.
For the letter kills, but the Spirit quickens (2Cor3:6).
Mark. 7:14 “When
He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me,
everyone, and understand:”
YLT: “And having
called near all the multitude, he said to them, `Hearken to me, ye all, and
understand;”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
What
the Lord has said to others is also said to us ------“the multitude”.
2)
It
is in vain for us to hear but not understand. May the Lord give us the ears of
hearing and hearts of understanding (see Matt. 13-16).
Mark. 7:15 “There
is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but
the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.”
YLT: “there is
nothing from without the man entering into him that is able to defile him, but
the things coming out from him, those are the things defiling the man.”
Literal Meaning:
“there is
nothing that enters a man from outside which can
defile him”, “enters a man from outside”, it refers to food (see v.19); “defile
him”: to make men “common and unclean” (see Acts. 11:8), i.e. to make someone not be “sanctified” (see John. 17:19).
“But the things which come out of him,
those are the things that defile a man”, “but the things which come out of
him”, they refer to the thoughts, words and behaviors coming out of men’s
hearts (see v.21-22).
The scribes and Pharisees talked
about the problem of cleanness by “washing hands” (see v.2). Now the Lord Jesus
elevated the whole matter unto the real meaning of purification by the
discussion of “food”. The uncleanness in letters was insignificant, but the
uncleanness in morality was significant.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
All
the real uncleanness originates from the inner part of men ---- it is a matter
of heart, not of hands.
2)
Religious
believers have the concepts of substances and letters only and yet lack the
spiritual sight. Anyone with spiritual sight knows that the true uncleanness is
evil ideas in men’s hearts instead of the impropriety of food and religious
ceremonies.
3)
In
the life of the heavenly kingdom, the uncleanness is not outward but inner
appearance, not physical but spiritual.
Mark. 7:16 “If
anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!" ”
YLT: “If any hath
ears to hear -- let him hear.'”
Mark. 7:17 “When
He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning
the parable.”
YLT: “And when he
entered into a house from the multitude, his disciples were questioning him
about the simile,”
Mark. 7:18 “So He
said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not
perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him,”
YLT: “and he saith to
them, `So also ye are without understanding! Do ye not perceive that nothing
from without entering into the man is able to defile him?”
Literal Meaning:
“whatever
enters a man from outside cannot defile him”, “whatever enters a man from
outside” refers to food (see v.2, 19); “defile”, it does not speak of the
uncleanness concerning the public hygiene, but the uncleanness in regard to
customs.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
Our
heart is slow that we shall ask the Lord to open our understanding to
“understand” His word (see Luke 24:25, 45).
2)
The
key of the matter does not lie in the outside ways, but the heart inside.
Mark. 7:19 “because
it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?" ”
YLT: “because it doth
not enter into his heart, but into the belly, and into the drain it doth go
out, purifying all the meats.'”
Literal Meaning:
“purifying all
foods”, some Bible exegetes thought they were parentheses added by Mary, not
the Lord’s words at that time, so they were presented in parenthesis.
Mark. 7:20 “And He said, "What
comes out of a man, that defiles a man.”
YLT: “And he said --
`That which is coming out from the man, that doth defile the man;”
Literal Meaning:
“and they
defile a man”, the word “and” in the original is emphatic.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
The
nominal believers only see the outside uncleanness of men, so they strictly
keep the regulations of cleanness. However, the Lord sees clearly the inside defilement
of men. May the Lord enlighten us that we not only cleanse our works but also
our heart.
2)
The
Lord’s attention is not on material things but spiritual things. Health counts
for little. However, the uncleanness of men’s hearts counts for much.
3)
The
defilement stems from the unclean heart instead of violating the outside
regulations.
Mark. 7:21 “For from within, out of the
heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,”
YLT: “for from
within, out of the heart of men, the evil reasonings do come forth, adulteries,
whoredoms, murders,”
Literal Meaning:
“proceed”:
give forth continually;
“Evil thoughts”: evil
schemes, the beginning of all men’s sins;
“Murders” or “adultery”, it
refers to the sexual acts that ruin the marital relations.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
The
heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9). All the
wickedness of men is on account of the deceitfulness of men’s heart.
2)
An
evil heart produces evil thoughts, and the evil thoughts bring forth evil acts.
All the outside evil acts of man are out of the evil thoughts inside.
3)
The
heart of believers shall only be cleansed (see Eph. 5:26) by appropriating the
water in the Lord’s water frequently. This is the fundamental way of blocking
the evil thoughts and actions.
Mark. 7:22 “thefts, covetousness,
wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.”
YLT: “thefts,
covetous desires, wickedness, deceit, arrogance, an evil eye, evil speaking,
pride, foolishness;”
Literal Meaning: “fornications”: the illegitimate
sexual action between unmarried couples or outside the couple;
“Deceit”: “deception”;
“An evil eye”: the eye that designs
evil, which also refers to hostility, enmity, envy;
“Lewdness” or “licentiousness”:
shameless and unlimited indulgence in sexual actions;
“Blasphemy”: it mainly
refers to the blasphemy against God as well as slanders to men;
Mark. 7:23 “All these evil things come
from within and defile a man." ”
YLT: “all these evils
do come forth from within, and they defile the man.'”
Enlightenment in the Word: the uncleanness of men’s hearts is the root of all evil and uncleanness.
Mark. 7:24 “From there He arose and
went to the region of
YLT: “And from thence
having risen, he went away to the borders of
Literal Meaning:
“there”, it
refers to the
“
Spiritual Meaning:
“the region of
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
The
Lord would rather depart to the places where had been cursed by God than be
with the hypocritical Pharisees. The Lord would rather show mercy to
publicly-known sinners than linger among the secret sinners.
2)
The
Lord Jesus would not make Himself known publicly, but could not be hidden. On
the contrary, man usually tries his best to manifest himself because of
expecting earnestly to show himself.
3)
The
incarnated Christ is the boundless God who hides himself within the body of
men. However, He is so full that His fullness may usually overflow ---- “could
not be hidden”.
Mark. 7:25 “For a woman whose young
daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His
feet.”
YLT: “for a woman
having heard about him, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having
come, fell at his feet, --”
Literal Meaning:
“a woman”, she
was a Greek, Syrophenician by race (See Mark. 7:26).
Spiritual Meaning:
“a woman”, she
represents the Gentiles who desire to receive the Lord.
“My daughter is severely
demon-possessed.” ---- “Daughter”, born by the woman, referred to the life and
behaviors out of the natural life, and the life was bound and controlled by the
devil (see 1John. 5:19).
Mark. 7:26 “The woman was a Greek, a
Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her
daughter.”
YLT: “and the woman
was a Greek, a Syro-Phenician by nation -- and was asking him, that the demon
he may cast forth out of her daughter.”
Literal Meaning:
“a
Syro-Phoenician by birth”, the Phoenician in the area of
Enlightenment in the Word:
the woman of
Mark. 7:27 “But Jesus said to her,
"Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the
children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." ”
YLT: “And Jesus said
to her, `Suffer first the children to be filled, for it is not good to take the
children's bread, and to cast to the little dogs.'”
The Background:
in the old
times the Jews called the Gentiles “dogs”. It was a scornful appellation and
yet later became a pet phrase, just like Chinese people called the while race “foreign
devils”.
Literal Meaning:
“throw it to the
little dogs”, “dogs” in the original are “domestic young puppies”, which are
treated as pets of family members or playmates of children. It shows that: 1)
the dogs are related to the lord of the house; 2) the lord is responsible for
feeding them; 3) in a family, the children should take bread first and then the
dogs; 4) children eat what is on the table and dogs eat what falls from the
table.
Spiritual Meaning: “Let the children be
filled first”, it means that the salvation of the Lord has no restriction, but
has its order ---- to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (see Rom. 1:16).
“The children’s bread” typifies that
the Lord is “the bread of life” (John. 6:35); “children” typifies the Jews,
especially “the lost sheep of the house of
“It is not good to take the children's
bread and throw it to the little dogs”, the Lord Jesus here didn’t despise the Greek
woman but showed the priority of His ministry through these words ---- He came
to give His salvation to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
The
Lord Jesus came to the world to be the “bread” that came down out of the heaven
in order to make men live by eating Him (see John. 6:51).
2)
Believers
should do all things decently and in order (see 1Cor. 14:40). We should not do
as we please according to our own desires.
Mark. 7:28 “And she answered and said
to Him, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the
children's crumbs." ”
YLT: “And she
answered and saith to him, `Yes, sir; for the little dogs also under the table
do eat of the children's crumbs.'”
Literal Meaning:
she seized the
Lord’s words ---- “little dogs” and humbly admitted that she was only a little
dog. Moreover, she boldly declared that the “domestic dogs” (the meaning of
little dogs in the original) belonged to the lord and had the right to eat
crumbs that the children did not need any more.
Please note that the Lord Jesus
departed to the region of
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
The
Greek woman did not get annoyed when the Lord compared her as “little dogs”,
but was willing to stand in the position of “little dogs” and called upon the
Lord. Finally she received the grace of the Lord (see v.28). God sets Himself
against proud, but to humble gives grace (see James. 4:6, 1Pet. 5:5).
2)
The
condition of a prayer’s being answered is to seize the words that the Lord has
said as a handle and pray to Him ---- it is a good way to pray with the words
that the Lord had spoken in the Bible.
3)
When
learning to pray, believers should not ask for great matters in the beginning,
but start from asking for “crumbs”.
4)
Since
the position of we gentile believers before God was like “little dogs”, we were
unworthy of receiving grace. However, the full grace has flown from the Jews to
the Gentiles like the “crumbs” falling from the table so that we have also
obtained the opportunity of receiving grace. Thanks the Lord!
Mark. 7:29 “Then He said to her,
"For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your
daughter." ”
YLT: “And he said to
her, `Because of this word go; the demon hath gone forth out of thy daughter;'”
Literal Meaning:
“for this
saying”, it referred to her words of asking for crumbs in the position of “little
dogs”.
Spiritual Meaning:
the daughter
of the Greek woman was delivered from the devil, which typified that the Lord
turned to the Gentiles because of being rejected by the Jews so that the
Gentile believers received salvation (see Rom. 11:11).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
“For
this saying”, obviously the wording of our prayer is rather important. In our
prayers, we shall not only have right heart before God, but also right words.
2)
One
must have spiritual mind in his prayer so that the words of his prayer can
touch the will of the Lord. Otherwise, though there is much words, it is still
of vanity.
3)
There
is a principle in the spiritual area, namely, what we have uttered has rather
great value. God not only looks on our heart, but also our words. Though God
knows clearly the hearts and reins of us as well as what we are asking for, He
likes us to speak it out.
4)
Anyone
who is willing to humble himself and stands in the position where he is
supposed to stand shall be praised by the Lord.
5)
Since
she had eaten the Lord as the “crumbs” of bread (see v.28), her daughter was
healed ---- it is a good way to have a good life by eating and enjoying the
Lord.
Mark. 7:30 “And when she had come to
her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.”
YLT: “and having come
away to her house, she found the demon gone forth, and the daughter laid upon
the couch.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
He
who believes in the Lord’s words will surely see the effect of the Lord’s words
with his own eyes.
2)
The
devil usually makes men unrest. Once the devil is cast off, men shall rest.
Mark. 7:31 “Again, departing from the
region of
YLT: “And again,
having gone forth from the coasts of
Literal Meaning:
if we search the map, we will see that the way of the Lord Jesus was rather circuitous.
He firstly went northwards to
Mark. 7:32 “Then they brought to Him
one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to
put His hand on him.”
YLT: “and they bring
to him a deaf, stuttering man, and they call on him that he may put the hand on
him.”
Literal Meaning:
“they brought
to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech”, since the man was
both deaf and dumb, he could neither hear the Lord’s words nor open his mouth
to call upon the Lord. However, he was so blessed that there were certain ones interceding
for him.
Some Bible exegetes thought the man who
was deaf and dumb was also a gentle person.
Spiritual Meaning:
“one who was
deaf and had an impediment in his speech”, it symbolizes the spiritual deafness
and dumbness of men ---- who can neither hear the praise of God, nor praise God
(see Is. 35:6), nor speak for the Lord (see Is.56:10).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Our “ears” are often “deaf”,
so we cannot hear the voice of the Son of God. Our “tongues” are usually “dumb”
so we can not say the will of God clearly.
2) A common saying goes like
this: “nine out of ten deaf are dumb”, which means that dumbness is often
caused by deafness. If our ears are opened to hear the Lord’s words, our
tongues will also be loosed so that we can praise and pray to the Lord as well
as bear witness of the Lord.
3) That believers can not speak
for the Lord is on account of having not heard the words of God. We shall
firstly learn to hear words of God, and then learn to speak for the Lord. The
one whose spiritual eyes are deaf and that refuse to hear the Lord’s words
cannot pray.
4) He who offends in word may
probably have not heard the Lord’s word with his heart.
Mark. 7:33 “And He took him aside from
the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his
tongue.”
YLT: “And having
taken him away from the multitude by himself, he put his fingers to his ears,
and having spit, he touched his tongue,”
Meaning of Words: “put”: insert;
Spiritual Meaning:
“and He took him aside
from the multitude”, the Lord delivered him from being disturbed by the
multitude so that he would see the Lord only instead of seeing men.
“And put His fingers in
his ears”, the Lord opened his ears first to enable him to hear His word.
“And He spat and touched
his tongue”, “spat” symbolized the word which went out through the
Lord's mouth.
Mark. 7:34 “Then, looking up to heaven,
He sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be
opened." ”
YLT: “and having
looked to the heaven, he sighed, and saith to him, `Ephphatha,' that is, `Be
thou opened;'”
Meaning of Words: “be opened”: open up;
Literal Meaning:
“Ephphatha”
meant “being opened”, which was Syrian ---- the common language spoken by the
Jews dwelling the area of
Spiritual
Meaning: “looking
up to heaven, He sighed”, “look up”, it indicates that God the Father is the
origin of His healing power; “sign” mianfests His compassion and mercy in His
heart.
Mark. 7:35 “Immediately his ears were
opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.”
YLT: “and immediately
were his ears opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he was
speaking plain.”
Mark. 7:36 “Then He commanded them that
they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they
proclaimed it.”
YLT: “And he charged
them that they may tell no one, but the more he was charging them, the more
abundantly they were proclaiming ,”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
What
is most important for believers who speak for the Lord is to speak according to
what they have heard from the Lord. If the proclamations are not in the light
of the Lord’s commandment, even though they are good words, they can still not
be accepted by the Lord.
2)
From
another aspect, all those who are “opened (v.35)” by the Lord must proclaim
---- “the Lord commanded more”, “the men proclaimed more”.
Mark. 7:37 “And they were astonished
beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes both the
deaf to hear and the mute to speak." ”
YLT: “and they were
being beyond measure astonished, saying, `Well hath he done all things; both
the deaf he doth make to hear, and the dumb to speak.'”
Enlightenment in the Word:
“He has done all things
well.” ---- That is true. All that He has done are well. We shall feel relieved
to entrust ourselves to Him, for what He has done in us are all good.
III. Outlines of the Spiritual
Lessons
The
Features of the Workers of the Lord
A.
The
Lord’s works are beyond regulations ---- one can eat without washing hands
(v.1-23);
B.
The
Lord’s works involve those who are unworthy ---- the woman of
C.
The
Lord’s works deliver those who are crushed ---- He healed the one was deaf and
had an impediment in his speech (v.31-37);
Faults
of the Religionists
A.
Keeping
the tradition of the elders (v.1-5);
B.
Hypocrisy
---- honor God with their lips, but their heart is far from God (v.6).
C.
Teaching
as doctrines the commandments of men (v.7);
D.
Making
the word of God of no effect through their tradition (v.8-13);
The
Spiritual Discernment
A.
One
need not keep the tradition of elders, but the truth of God must be kept
(v.1-5).
B.
The
worship of lips may not true, but the worship of spirit and truth is really
true (v.6).
C.
The
commandment of men may not be reasonable, but the commandment of God is truth
(v.7).
D.
Keeping
the elders’ tradition shall make the word of God of no effect (v.8-13).
E.
Nothing
that enters a man from outside can defile him, but the things which come out of
him are the things that defile a man (v.14-23).
Three
Forms of Sins
A.
Which
are manifested in men’s nature ---- out of the heart of men (v
B.
Which
are manifested in men’s mind ---- evil thoughts (v.21b);
C.
Which
are manifested in men’s actions ---- adulteries, thefts (v
How
to Enjoy the Authority of the Lord?
A.
One
shall be humble before the Lord (v.24-25).
B.
One
shall have clear prayers (v.26).
C.
One
shall understand the Lord’s words (v.27).
D.
One
shall keep himself in right position (v.28).
E.
One
shall pray to the Lord with right “words” (v.29).
F.
One
shall have faith in the Lord’s word (v.30).
How
to Speak for the Lord?
A.
One
shall pray to the Lord for one another (v.31-32).
B.
One
shall enjoy the close fellowship with the Lord alone ---- Jesus took him aside
from the multitude (v
C.
One’s
spiritual ears shall be opened first ---- put His fingers in his ears (v.33b).
D.
One
shall be anointed and immersed by the Lord’s word ---- He spat and touched his
tongue (v
E.
One
shall obtain clear words from the Lord ---- “Ephphatha” (v.34-35).
All
that He Had Done Were Well
A.
His
ways are amazing ----His ways are higher than men’s ways (v.31).
B.
His
works are amazing ---- He does not work according to men’s prayer (v.32-33).
C.
His
words are amazing ---- His words take its effect immediately (v.34-35).
D.
His
grace is amazing ---- His grace makes men hear first and speak afterwards
(v.36-37).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou