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 7:20 mean?

Explanation

Mark 7:20 pertains to a teaching from Jesus about purity and impurity, a discourse that challenged the prevailing Jewish notions of what makes a person clean or unclean in a spiritual sense.

The verse is a statement made by Jesus to highlight that it is not the consumption of certain foods or the adherence to dietary laws that defile a person, but rather the things that people say and do, which come from within their hearts, are what truly defile them.

In essence, Jesus is teaching that moral impurity, such as evil thoughts, actions, and words, is more critical in the eyes of God than ceremonial impurity as understood by traditional Jewish law.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

During the time Mark's Gospel was written, Jewish society placed a high emphasis on ritual purity, especially concerning dietary laws and practices.

The Pharisees and scribes often clashed with Jesus over these issues, accusing His disciples of defiling themselves by not strictly observing traditional rituals, such as the washing of hands before eating.

This verse falls within a conversation that Jesus had with the Pharisees and His own disciples, wherein He explains that external adherence to rituals is not as important to God as the purity of a person's heart and actions.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse challenges legalistic approaches to religion. It points to a deeper, more personal understanding of purity that goes beyond the ritualistic to the ethical and moral dimensions of life.

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse reinforces the concept that salvation and holiness are a matter of grace and internal transformation rather than mere external observance.

Some scholars also see this as part of Jesus' broader mission to redefine the basis of Jewish religious life by emphasizing internal virtue over external ritual compliance.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Mark 7:20 can be interpreted as a call for introspection and moral vigilance.

It encourages individuals to focus on cultivating inner purity through their thoughts, intentions, and actions.

In daily life, this could mean prioritizing ethical behavior and sincerity over merely appearing righteous or fulfilling religious obligations.

It also serves as a reminder of the importance of what we communicate and the need to guard our words and actions as they reflect our character.

Cross-References

Matthew 15:11: "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man."
Matthew 15:18-20: "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man."
James 3:6: "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word translated as "defileth" is "koinoo," which means to make common or unclean, to desecrate or profane.

The focus is on the moral or spiritual state being compromised rather than physical cleanliness.

When Jesus says "that which cometh out of the man," this refers to spoken words and actions that originate from a person's inner thoughts and desires.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader ancient Near Eastern context, many cultures had dietary laws and purity rituals. For example, the ancient Egyptians practiced elaborate mummification techniques and rituals to purify the dead.

However, Jesus' teachings in Mark 7:20 deviate from these purely external practices by emphasizing the ethical and moral dimensions of purity. This stress on internal over external purity was quite distinctive among the religious teachings of the time.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychology and behavioral science have explored the concept that our actions and words can reflect our inner state and also influence it. The idea that what we express can either contribute to psychological health or reflect inner turmoil is broadly supported in psychological literature.

While the verse itself does not engage directly with scientific discourse, the emphasis on internal states influencing external behaviors aligns with contemporary understandings of human psychology.

commentaries

Various Biblical scholars and theologians have commented on this verse.

For example, William Barclay notes that Jesus challenged the notion that religion is about rules and regulations, asserting that true religion is about the state of one's heart.

John Calvin emphasizes the corrupt nature of the human heart and the need for divine grace to purify it.

Matthew Henry comments on the importance of guarding one's speech as it can reveal the impurity of the heart, while also highlighting the need for Christ's atoning sacrifice to cleanse humanity's inherent sinfulness.

These commentaries provide a spectrum of interpretations that underscore the spiritual and ethical emphases of this passage in Mark's Gospel.

Mark 7

Mark 7

What does Mark 7:20 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 7:20 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?