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 7:29 mean?

Explanation

The verse "And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter." (Mark 7:29, KJV) recounts a moment where Jesus acknowledges the faith and persistence of a Gentile woman whose daughter was demon-possessed.

The woman had pleaded with Jesus to cast the demon out of her daughter.

Jesus initially responds with what seems to be a rebuff, mentioning that the children (implied to be the children of Israel) should be fed first and it is not right to take their bread and throw it to the dogs (Gentiles).

The woman cleverly replies that even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.

Jesus, impressed by her response and faith, tells her that because of her reply, she should go and her daughter would be healed.

The literal meaning is that the woman's request is granted, and the deeper meaning suggests that faith and perseverance have no boundaries, and even those outside of the initial scope of Jesus' mission are recipients of His mercy.

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Historical Context

The event takes place during Jesus' ministry on earth, specifically in the region of Tyre and Sidon, which were predominantly Gentile areas.

This is significant because Jesus' mission was primarily targeted to the Jewish people, the "children of Israel." However, this encounter with the Syrophoenician woman marked a turning point where the grace and miracles of Jesus began to reach beyond Jewish boundaries, foreshadowing the later mission to the Gentiles as well.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints might focus on the inclusivity of God's grace, the role of faith in receiving miracles, or the testing of the woman's faith.

Some might also interpret Jesus' initial response as a teaching moment, not only testing the woman's faith but also instructing His disciples on the eventual expansion of the Gospel.

Additionally, some theologies may emphasize the sovereignty of Christ in choosing whom He heals.

Practical Applications

The verse can inspire believers to persevere in their faith even when facing challenges or when it seems like they are being turned away.

It suggests the importance of humility and persistence in prayer and advocates for a belief in the willingness of Jesus to listen to and help those who come to Him in faith, regardless of their background or status.

Cross-References

Matthew 15:28: "Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.

And her daughter was made whole from that very hour."

Mark 5:34: "And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague."
Luke 18:35-43: Parable of the persistent widow who was eventually granted justice by the judge because of her persistence, which is a lesson in perseverance in faith.

Language Study

"Saying" in Greek is "logos," meaning "word," "speech," or "utterance," which emphasizes the power of the woman's spoken faith.
"Go thy way" is translated from the Greek "hupago," which is an imperative form expressing Jesus' authority.
"Devil" here is translated from the Greek "daimonion," referring to an evil spirit or demon.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the wider Greco-Roman world, exorcisms and miracles were not uncommon and were often performed by various religious figures and magicians.

The miracle performed by Jesus aligns with the typical demonstration of divine power but is distinctive by being granted in response to faith, rather than payment or ritual.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understanding does not typically accept the existence of demons or supernatural healing.

Conditions that may have been attributed to demonic possession in ancient times could be reinterpreted today as mental or neurological disorders.

Nonetheless, the psychological impact of belief and faith in medical outcomes, often called the placebo effect, is well documented in scientific literature.

Commentaries

Commentaries often highlight the significance of Jesus' ministry to the marginalized and the often-overlooked. They point out that while Jesus' mission was first to the Jews, this encounter shows the inclusivity of the Gospel message.

Many commentators also focus on the nature of the woman's faith, noting her understanding, courage, and humility as exemplary, and point out that her interaction with Jesus demonstrates that faith knows no boundaries of race or culture.

They also examine the idea that Jesus' response was not meant as a true refusal but as a way to bring out the woman's faith for all to see.

Mark 7

Mark 7

What does Mark 7:29 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 7:29 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?