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 7:19 mean?

Explanation

The verse Mark 7:19 from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible is a key part of a broader discussion Jesus is having with His disciples about purity, dietary laws, and what defiles a person spiritually.

In this verse, Jesus explains that food does not defile a person's heart because it does not enter the heart but the stomach and is expelled from the body.

The deeper meaning here goes beyond the literal digestion process; Jesus is teaching that spiritual purity is not maintained by ritualistic observances regarding food but by the state of one's heart and what emanates from it.

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Historical Context

Mark 7:19 must be understood within the historical context of first-century Jewish customs and the Mosaic Law.

Dietary regulations were an integral part of Jewish life, dictated in the Torah (particularly Leviticus and Deuteronomy), and were taken very seriously by the Jewish people.

The Pharisees, a religious group at the time, had developed traditions that extended these laws, adding extra rules and interpretations.

Jesus challenges these traditions by asserting that they should not overshadow the fundamental issues of inner purity and moral behavior.

Theological Insights

Different Christian denominations interpret Mark 7:19 variously.

Some see it as Jesus declaring all foods clean, releasing Christians from Old Testament dietary restrictions.

Others view the focus not on the abolition of these laws but rather on prioritizing the morality and intentions behind one's actions over ritualistic observance.

Still, others see it as emphasizing that spiritual defilement comes from the heart, not external factors.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse can be applied in daily life by encouraging individuals to focus more on their inner intentions and moral character rather than on ritualistic purity or following religious rules for their own sake.

It inspires self-reflection on what truly defiles an individual, which is often not external but rather the thoughts, words, and actions that emanate from within.

Cross-References

Matthew 15:17-20: Similar teachings from Jesus regarding what defiles a person.
Acts 10:11-15: Peter's vision where he is told not to call anything impure that God has made clean.
Romans 14:14: Paul teaching that no food is unclean in itself.
1 Timothy 4:4-5: Every creature of God is good if it is received with thanksgiving.

Language Study

In the original Greek, a significant word is "katharizon" (καθαρίζον), which means "cleansing" or "purifying." This reflects the process of making something clean, and plays into the broader theme of what it truly means to be pure, in a spiritual sense.

Additionally, "kardia" (καρδία) refers to the heart, implying the center of emotions and moral conscience, rather than just the physical organ.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This concept of internal vs. external purity was not unique to Christianity but can be found in other religious and philosophical traditions. For instance, in Hinduism, there is a focus on the purity of the heart and mind to achieve spiritual goals.

Additionally, the argument between following traditional religious practices versus a more individualized, inner moral compass can be found in various philosophical debates across cultures.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, Mark 7:19 accords with the biological understanding of digestion.

Food enters the body, nutrients are absorbed, and waste is expelled.

There is no biological interaction with the heart in this process.

This fact underlines the symbolic nature of the heart in Jesus' teachings, which refers to a person's inner moral and emotional life rather than to their physical wellbeing.

Commentaries

Biblical commentators have various interpretations of Mark 7:19.

Some suggest it reflects Jesus' move away from Jewish legalism.

Others focus on the importance of this verse in the debate over whether Christians are bound by Jewish dietary laws.

Still, others suggest that the verse emphasizes the importance of internal spiritual states over external ritual purity.

John Calvin, for instance, speaks about the inward impurity of man.

Matthew Henry comments on the ceremonial laws being like schoolmasters to bring us to Christ but are now abrogated.

Mark 7

Mark 7

What does Mark 7:19 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 7:19 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?