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 7:27 mean?

Explanation

Mark 7:27 captures a moment during Jesus' ministry where he is approached by a Syrophoenician woman who pleads with him to cast a demon out of her daughter.

Jesus' response may at first seem harsh or dismissive.

He uses a metaphor that, in the context of the time, juxtaposes two groups: the children (representing Israel) who should first receive their 'bread' (God's blessings and message), and the 'dogs' (representing Gentiles or non-Jews) to whom it would not be right to give what was intended for the children.

The deeper meaning behind this verse is often interpreted as a test of the woman's faith or as a way of Jesus illustrating a broader lesson to his disciples about the scope of his mission.

The woman's reply demonstrates her perseverance and understanding of Jesus' parable.

She acknowledges that even the 'dogs' eat the crumbs that fall from the children's table, showing both humility and an acknowledgment that the blessings of Jesus' ministry extend beyond the boundaries of Israel.

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Historical Context

This verse is set in a time when Jesus' primary mission was to the Jewish people.

It reflects the prevailing Jewish view that Gentiles were outside the covenant and blessings of Israel.

The stark difference between Jews and Gentiles, as per Jewish custom and Law, is embodied in the analogy of children and dogs.

Gentiles were often considered 'unclean' and were thus excluded from many aspects of Jewish religious life.

Jesus' ministry did focus initially on the Jews, but he was also demonstrating that it would eventually spread to all nations. The encounter with the Syrophoenician woman foreshadows the later mission to the Gentiles after Jesus' death and resurrection.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse opens up several important themes:

Exclusivity versus Universality: It addresses the exclusivity of God's covenant with Israel and the eventual universality of the Gospel.
Faith over Ethnicity: The woman's faith trumped traditional ethnic divisions, indicating that God's mercy and blessings are available to all who believe.
Mission of Jesus: It provides insight into Jesus' mission and the staged approach to first addressing Israel before moving to include Gentiles.
Salvation History: From a salvation-historical perspective, this passage is a pivotal point that shows the transition from the Old Covenant, centered on Israel, to the New Covenant, which is open to all through faith in Christ.

Practical Applications

The verse encourages believers to:

Recognize God's Sovereignty: Understand and respect God’s timing and distribution of blessings.
Persist in Faith: The woman did not become discouraged by Jesus' rebuke but continued to show deep faith.
Embrace Humility: A humble acknowledgment of one’s need can lead to the receipt of grace.
Inclusivity: Be inclusive in sharing God’s blessings and the message of the Gospel with others, regardless of their background or status.

Cross-References

Matthew 15:21-28 - The parallel account of the Syrophoenician woman's interaction with Jesus.
Romans 1:16 - "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
Ephesians 2:14-22 - Discussing the breakdown of the wall of separation between Jews and Gentiles in Christ.
Acts 10 - Peter's vision and Cornelius' conversion, marking the formal inclusion of Gentiles in the Church.

Language Study

The key terms in the original Greek text are:

“Children” (τέκνα, tekna) - Here, likely refers to the Jewish people who were seen as God's chosen or children.
“Bread” (ἄρτος, artos) - Symbolizes the blessings and teaching that Jesus was imparting, with bread being essential for life.
“Dogs” (κυναρίοις, kunariois) - In the cultural context, calling someone a dog was often seen as an insult.

However, this term is a diminutive form, possibly akin to "little dogs" or "household pets," softening the term slightly.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient cultures, there were also distinctions between individuals who belonged to a group considered chosen or favored by the gods and those who were not.

The concept of Jesus opening up the covenant to include all people, regardless of their background, challenged many of these cultural notions and set a precedent for religious inclusiveness.

Scientific Perspectives

While this verse does not directly intersect with scientific understandings, it does touch on psychological and social concepts like in-group and out-group dynamics, which are studied in psychology and sociology.

Jesus' ministry, as exemplified here, demonstrates a transcendence of these in-group/out-group barriers, which is reflected in modern efforts to understand and overcome prejudice.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer various interpretations:

Historical-Critical Perspective: Some point out the significance of Mark writing to a predominantly Gentile audience and using this account to illustrate the inclusivity of Jesus' mission.
Literary Analysis: By examining the structure and placement of this narrative, others suggest that Mark is highlighting Jesus' ability to break down social and religious barriers.
Spiritual Reflection: Devotional commentaries might focus on the persistence of the woman's faith and encourage believers to similarly persevere in prayer and trust in God's good will.
Social-Cultural Explanation: Commentators sometimes explain the reference to "dogs" as an indication of social norms but show Jesus subverting these norms through his ultimate response to the woman’s profound faith.

Mark 7

Mark 7

What does Mark 7:27 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 7:27 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?