The history of the last year of our Lord's ministry begins here. See notes on Matthew 15:1-20. Mark introduces several independent details: the fact that the opposers came from Jerusalem (Mark 7:1), the explanation of the Jewish washings (Mark 7:3-4); but he omits the remarks to the disciples about... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:1. AND THERE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER UNTO HIM. Against Him, as we see. FROM JERUSALEM. They had recently come.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:2. WHEN THEY SAW, _i.e.,_ on some very recent occasion. THAT SOME OF HIS DISCIPLES ATE THEIR BREAD. ‘This incident naturally brings to view the constant and intrusive _surveillance_ to which our Lord and His disciples were subjected' (J. A. Alexander). DEFILED, or ‘common.' Comp. Acts 10:... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:3. ALL THE JEWS. Pharisaism had the upper hand. DILIGENTLY, lit., ‘with the fist' The two interpretations now most generally adopted are: (1) Actually ‘with the fist,' as a peculiar ceremony on such occasions. Probably it was part of the rite, that the washing hand was shut; Because it migh... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:4. AND FROM THE MARKET. It is doubtful whether this means: when they come from the market, or, what comes from the market. We prefer the former (see below). EXCEPT THEY BATHE, lit., ‘baptize; ‘according to another reading, ‘sprinkle themselves.' The original means, either baptize themselves... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:5. See on Matthew 15:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:6-7. This citation is placed in a different position by Matthew, but the sense is precisely the same.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:8. YET LET GO THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD, etc. This verse is peculiar to Mark, ‘setting forth their _depreciating_ of God's command in comparison with human tradition, before their absolute _violation_ of that command in Mark 7:10-11.' (Alford.) TRADITION OF MEN. ‘Men ‘as in contrast to ‘God,'... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:9. WELL. Ironical; the same word as in Mark 7:6. YOUR TRADITION. The tradition of the elders was that of ‘men,' and they had made it theirs, living by it, contrary to the laws of God. ‘At the bottom of all rigorous enforcement of traditional observances there is an unconscious, or half cons... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:10. FOR MOSES SAID. Matthew: ‘For God commanded.'... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:11. CORBAN. This was the Hebrew word used, which Mark translates into Greek for his Greek readers. Both mean a gift to God. The term ‘Corban' seems to have included all kinds of offerings, though some think it was applied in the time of Christ only to offerings without a sacrifice. On the who... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:12. YE NO LONGER SUFFER HIM, etc. Not necessarily that they actively forbade it, but their teachings virtually permitted him to neglect his father and mother altogether. This is the comment of our Lord, not the language of the Pharisees. Comp. Matthew 15:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:13. The last clause of Mark 7:8 was probably taken from this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:14. AND HE CALLED TO HIM THE MULTITUDE AGAIN. Not ‘all the multitude.' ‘Again ‘implies that during this questioning the crowd was not so closely about Him as usual, but it does not follow that He had been judicially examined in the synagogue. Hear me all (_of you)._ ‘All' is peculiar to Mark.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:15. See on Matthew 15:11. Mark does not mention ‘the mouth,' but that is implied.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:16 is not found in some early manuscripts. The words were a common close to instruction difficult to understand.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:17. INTO THE HOUSE. The remarks about the Pharisees (Matthew 15:12-14) were uttered first, then HIS DISCIPLES (‘Peter,' Matthew) ASKED OF HIM THE PARABLE. If Peter was Mark's informant, there is modesty in this variation.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:19. MAKING ALL MEATS CLEAN. The general thought of Mark 7:18-19, is the same as that of Matthew 15:16-17, but besides the fuller form Mark gives, he inserts this new detail. The clause may be joined with ‘draught;' if then refers to the purifying process, which takes place in the impure matte... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:21. FOR FROM WITHIN, OUT OF THE HEART OF MAN. This represents, even more emphatically than the form preserved by Matthew, that the heart of man is ‘the laboratory and fountain-head of all that is good and bad in the inner life of man,' hence his responsibility, etc. That the body is the seat... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:22. COVETINGS, lit., ‘covetousnesses,' grasping, greedy desires, with the attending peculiarities. WICKEDNESSES. ‘Malignities;' evil dispositions. DECEIT. Fraud, as distinguished from actual theft. LASCIVIOUSNESS. Sensual excess. AN EVIL EYE. A figure for _envy._ BLASPHEMY. Proud an... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:24. AND FROM THENCE. Probably Capernaum, though the locality is nowhere specified. WENT. Matthew: ‘withdrew,' to avoid the Pharisees. THE BORDERS OF TYRE AND SIDON. See on Matthew 15:21. Some ancient authorities omit ‘and Sidon,' probably to avoid a difficulty in Mark 7:31. ENTERED INTO... [ Continue Reading ]
Compare notes on Matthew 15:21-39. The miracle (Mark 7:32-37) is peculiar to Mark and of special interest.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:25. HAVING HEARD OF HIM, CAME. Probably into the house. FELL AT HIS FEET. In her final entreaty also she ‘worshipped Him' (Matthew 15:25).... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:26. A GREEK, _i.e.,_ a Gentile in religion. SYROPHENICIAN BY RACE, such a nation no longer existed. There were Phenicians at Carthage in Libya (Africa), as well as in Syria. The Phenicians were Canaanites by extraction (comp. Matthew 15:22). SHE BESOUGHT HIM. Here occurred all the details... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:27. LET THE CHILDREN FIRST BE FILLED. ‘This important addition in Mark sets forth the whole ground on which the present refusal rested. The Jews were _first_ to have the gospel offered to them for their acceptance or rejection; it was _not yet time_ for the Gentiles' (Alford).... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:29. FOR THIS SAYING. As an evidence of her _faith_. THE DEMON IS GONE OUT. As He spoke, the miracle was performed (Matthew 15:28).... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:30. AND SHE WENT AWAY TO HER HOUSE. This sketch of her return is peculiar to Mark. She had obeyed the command: ‘Go thy way.' Laid, or, ‘thrown,' upon the bed. Just as the demon left her, but in a quiet condition, which was the evidence that the demon had gone. The correct order favors this vi... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:31. AND CAME THROUGH SIDON. Not the city, but the district thus termed. The course was first northward, then eastward, then southward or southwestward, THROUGH THE MIDST OF THE REGION OF DECAPOLIS (the northern part) to the _eastern_ shore of the sea of Galilee. See map of Decapolis, p. 271.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:32. HAD AN IMPEDIMENT IN HIS SPEECH. Lit, ‘hardly speaking.' It is more probable that he was ‘deaf and dumb' than a ‘stammerer,' etc. Deafness usually causes dumbness. An actual and separate defect in the vocal organs is, however, suggested both by the form here used and the mode of healing.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:33. TOOK HIM ASIDE FROM THE MULTITUDE APART (or, ‘by himself'). This may have been in consequence of some peculiarity in the _man_ himself, or in the spectators. The people of that district (see Matthew 15:30-31) were probably rude and more or less under heathen influence. The peculiar manner... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:34. AND LOOKING UP TO HEAVEN. In _prayer_, perhaps to show His connection with God the Father in heaven, over against the magical influences which may have been assumed by the people of that district; perhaps to affect the deaf and dumb man, who could perceive this. HE SIGHED. In sympathy,... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:35. THE STRING OF HIS TONGUE, the impediment, whatever it was, was loosed, was removed. AND HE SPAKE PLAINLY (or ‘rightly ‘). It is not necessarily implied that he was able to speak in some way before the cure. ‘Mark shows, in his account of the miracles, a preference for those healings, in... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:36. CHARGED THEM, etc. The prohibition was mainly to prevent excessive zeal among these mountaineers (comp. Matthew 15:30-31).... [ Continue Reading ]
Mark 7:37. BEYOND MEASURE. Their excessive zeal was equalled by their excessive astonishment. HE HATH DONE ALL THINGS WELL. Perhaps an allusion to Genesis 1:31; the same Power and Beneficence were manifested in His healing as in God's work of creation. THE DUMB TO SPEAK. This favors the view tha... [ Continue Reading ]