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 7:25 mean?

Explanation

In Mark 7:25, we encounter a desperate situation where a woman, whose daughter was afflicted with an unclean spirit, learns about Jesus and seeks his help.

The verse succinctly paints a picture of a mother's love and the lengths she is willing to go to find healing for her child.

On hearing about Jesus' healing power, the woman approaches Jesus, disregards the social norms of the time by directly addressing a male Jewish teacher, and humbly falls at his feet, pleading for her daughter's deliverance.

The verse sets the stage for a powerful demonstration of faith and a miraculous healing by Jesus.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Mark 7:25 is set in the context of 1st-century Palestine, a time when Jewish customs restricted interactions between Jews and Gentiles, and between men and women in some public settings.

This particular event occurs shortly after Jesus engaged with Pharisees and teachers of the law concerning the purity laws.

The woman in this narrative is described as a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by nationality, suggesting she came from the region of Phoenicia in Syria, emphasizing the cultural and religious barriers she crossed to seek Jesus’ help.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse is significant for several reasons.

One insight is the universality of Jesus’ ministry, extending beyond the Jewish people to Gentiles.

The woman’s approach to Jesus exemplifies the theme of faith found throughout the Gospels.

Protestant theology often highlights this as an example of "sola fide" (by faith alone), meaning that her faith, not her ethnicity or adherence to the law, grants her access to God's grace.

In Catholic and Orthodox traditions, this verse can also highlight the intercessory role of the saints, as the woman is interceding for her daughter and is a model of persistent prayer.

Practical Applications

From a practical standpoint, Mark 7:25 encourages individuals to exercise humility and persistence when seeking assistance. It also challenges believers to emulate Jesus' compassion and openness, breaking down barriers of race, culture, and social status.

The verse serves as a reminder to have faith in God's power to change the most dire of circumstances and to act as agents of God’s healing and love within their communities.

Cross-References

Matthew 15:21-28: The same story as told by Matthew, which provides additional dialogue between Jesus and the woman.
Mark 5:22-23: Another situation where Jairus falls at Jesus' feet, pleading for the healing of his daughter.
Luke 18:1-8: Parable of the persistent widow, demonstrating the need for persistent faith.
Acts 10:34-35: Peter acknowledges that God shows no partiality between Jews and Gentiles.

Language Study

In this verse, the term "unclean spirit" (Greek: πνεῦμα ἀκάθαρτον, pneuma akatharton) suggests a spiritual affliction or demon possession, common terminology within the New Testament for describing spiritual oppression causing physical or mental ailments.

The phrase "fell at his feet" (Greek: προσπίπτω, prospiptō) indicates a posture of deep respect, humility, and submission; it acknowledges the authority and power of the person approached.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The act of falling at someone's feet as a sign of respect or supplication is not unique to the Jewish culture of the time and can be seen in various ancient cultures, such as Egyptian and Greco-Roman societies.

The mention of "an unclean spirit" can be compared to other ancient mythologies that speak of evil spirits causing harm or illness, reflecting a common ancient understanding of the spiritual causes of afflictions.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understanding would likely interpret the "unclean spirit" as a psychological or neurological disorder.

From a contemporary perspective, the discussions of unclean spirits and exorcisms in the Bible are often seen in the light of ancient people attempting to understand and cope with conditions that were beyond their medical knowledge at the time.

Commentaries

Various biblical commentators and scholars provide different insights into this verse.

For example, Matthew Henry's Commentary emphasizes the faith and humility of the woman in approaching Jesus, her status as a Gentile, and Jesus' willingness to minister across cultural boundaries.

The MacArthur Study Bible notes how Jesus' interaction with this Gentile woman anticipates the later mission to the Gentiles.

The Pulpit Commentary discusses Jesus' apparent initial dismissal of the woman's request, which scholars interpret as a test of her faith, revealing its depth and sincerity.

These commentaries generally agree on the importance of faith and Jesus' role in bridging the divides between Jew and Gentile.

Mark 7

Mark 7

What does Mark 7:25 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 7:25 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?