Mark 7

Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.

And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctines the commandments of men.

For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:

There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.

And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.

For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:

The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.

But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.

And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.

And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.

And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.

And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.

And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;

And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;

And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

What does Mark 7:16 mean?

Explanation

The verse, "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear," from Mark 7:16 in the King James Version of the Bible, serves as an exhortation from Jesus to His listeners to pay attention not only physically but to understand and heed the spiritual and moral lessons He is conveying.

In essence, Jesus is emphasizing the importance of being receptive to His teachings.

It reflects the idea that spiritual comprehension is not merely a matter of sensory perception but requires an open heart and mind.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark is one of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament.

It is widely believed to have been written by John Mark, an associate of the Apostle Peter, between AD 66 and 70.

Mark 7:16 is part of the narrative where Jesus is challenging the Pharisees and some of the traditions of the elders, especially their emphasis on ceremonial purity over the condition of one's heart.

The verse is calling attention to the teachings of Jesus, especially in contrast to the legalistic teachings that were prevalent among the religious leaders of the time.

Theological Insights

This verse presents several theological insights:

It highlights the distinction between physical sense (hearing) and spiritual understanding, implying that true discipleship requires discernment and interpretation beyond the literal words.
It suggests the idea that divine truth requires an active response, not just passive listening.
From a Calvinistic perspective, it could be seen as an allusion to the doctrine of predestination, in that only those with "ears to hear" (chosen by God) will respond to Jesus' teaching.
In contrast, an Arminian viewpoint might interpret this call as a universal invitation, emphasizing human free will in the choice to hear and obey God’s word.

Practical Applications

Practically speaking, this verse serves as a reminder to be attentive and intentional about how one listens to and processes spiritual teachings. It can be applied in daily life in the following ways:

Encouraging believers to seek deeper understanding and not be satisfied with a surface-level reading of Scripture.
Urging individuals to be discerning about what they listen to, aligning what is heard with biblical truth.
Motivating Christians to be doers of the word, putting into practice the teachings of Jesus.

Cross-References

Several other verses echo the sentiment of Mark 7:16, including:

Matthew 11:15: "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."
Matthew 13:9: "Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."
Revelation 2:7: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

These verses spread across different contexts nevertheless emphasize the importance of active and discerning listening.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the phrase "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear" is written as "ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν, ἀκουέτω." The word "ἔχων" (echon) means "having" or "holding," while "ὦτα" (ota) translates to "ears." The term "ἀκούειν" (akouein) is the infinitive form of "hear" or "listen." The word "ἀκουέτω" (akouetō) is an imperative, making the phrase not just a statement but a command to actively listen.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient cultures, there are sayings and proverbs that emphasize the importance of listening and understanding, such as in the wisdom literature of the Ancient Near East.

In some religious traditions, the concept of having the "ears to hear" can also be found as a metaphor for spiritual receptivity.

For example, in Buddhism, attentive listening is part of the practice for understanding Dharma.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the phrase can lead to discussions on the difference between hearing and listening.

Hearing is a physiological process, but listening is a psychological act that requires focus and cognitive engagement.

In neuroscience, studies show that auditory processing and cognitive understanding of spoken language engage different areas of the brain.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and commentators have provided insights on this verse:

John Calvin regarded this admonition as a warning that not all will understand the true meaning of Christ's teachings due to their own hardness of heart.
Matthew Henry saw this as a call to pay attention to the doctrine of Christ, emphasizing that the ability to hear is a blessing that should be used wisely.
William Barclay pointed out that this saying was a common feature in Jesus's parables, which suggests that Jesus was insisting on the necessity of bringing an understanding heart to his words.

Mark 7

Mark 7

What does Mark 7:16 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 7:16 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?