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 7:17 mean?

Explanation

The verse Mark 7:17 refers to a moment when Jesus had finished speaking to a crowd and entered a house.

His disciples, seeking clarity about something he had said earlier, seized the opportunity to question him privately.

The “parable” they asked about is not a parable in the traditional sense; rather, it refers to his earlier teachings about what defiles a person.

In the broader context of Mark 7, Jesus had challenged the Pharisees and the crowd, teaching that it is not what comes from outside, like certain foods, that defiles a person, but what comes from within, from the heart.

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Historical Context

The historical context of Mark 7:17 lies within the broader narrative of Jesus' ministry in Galilee, which occurred during the first century in a region heavily influenced by Jewish law and tradition.

At that time, the Pharisees and teachers of the law adhered strictly to ritual purity codes, which included detailed dietary laws.

Jesus' teaching, which prioritized internal purity over external observance, confronted these deeply entrenched beliefs and social norms.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse highlights Jesus as the interpreter of the law and redefines what constitutes purity in God's eyes.

Different Christian traditions may emphasize various aspects of this teaching: some may underscore the idea of internal transformation over ritual observance, while others may focus on Jesus as the one who liberates believers from strict legalism.

Furthermore, the idea that Jesus teaches important truths to his disciples in private can be seen as indicative of an intimate relationship he has with those who follow him.

Practical Applications

The lesson from Mark 7:17 can be applied in a practical sense by reminding individuals to assess their internal motives and spiritual state rather than merely focusing on external religious practices.

This invites self-reflection on one's attitudes and thoughts, promoting an authentic way of living out one’s faith that prioritizes internal transformation and sincerity over superficial compliance with religious norms.

Cross-References

"But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man." (Matthew 15:18)
"O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." (Matthew 12:34)
"And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man." (Mark 7:20)

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek text of this verse include:

"entered" (εἰσελθὼν, eiselthōn): often signifies going into a place but also can imply transitioning to a different state or context.
"house" (οἰκίαν, oikian): beyond a physical building, it represents a private or intimate space, removed from the public eye.
"disciples" (μαθηταί, mathētai): typically means learners or followers of a teacher.
"asked" (ἠρώτων, ērōtōn): denotes the act of questioning or seeking information.
"parable" (παραβολή, parabolē): commonly understood as a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, but in this context, it may imply a difficult saying or teaching.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient Near Eastern religions, there were various notions of purity and ritual practice, many of which similarly emphasized external rites.

For example, in some ancient cults, the idea of cleanliness was connected to one's status before the gods.

Jesus' teaching departs from this by emphasizing the condition of the heart rather than strict ritual adherence, a radical shift in focus when comparing to other contemporary religious systems.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychological science affirms that authentic behavior and integrity – themes that can be drawn from this verse – are crucial for mental health and well-being.

By teaching that inner purity is more important than external conformity, Jesus' words echo the importance of congruence between one's internal state and outward actions, a concept supported by numerous studies on human behavior and mental health.

Commentaries

Commentaries offer a variety of insights on Mark 7:17.

Some commentators focus on the contrast between Jesus' teachings and the traditional views of purity laws.

They suggest that this moment reflects a broader theme in the Gospels of Jesus redefining religious practice to focus on the heart and intent rather than ritual observance.

Others may discuss the role of the disciples as learners who do not always immediately understand Jesus' messages, highlighting themes of discipleship and the process of spiritual growth.

Mark 7

Mark 7

What does Mark 7:17 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 7:17 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?