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 7:31 mean?

Explanation

The verse Mark 7:31 describes a part of Jesus's journey during His ministry.

Here, it is mentioned that Jesus left the region of Tyre and Sidon, which was predominantly a Gentile (non-Jewish) area located in present-day Lebanon, and went to the Sea of Galilee.

He passed through the region of Decapolis, which was a group of ten cities on the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire in Judea and Syria.

The verse captures Jesus's extensive ministry and His deliberate movement through Gentile regions, which highlights His mission to reach not just Jews but also non-Jews.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, the region of Tyre and Sidon was known for its paganism and was not typically an area where Jewish teachers would focus their ministry.

The Sea of Galilee is a freshwater lake in the region of northern Israel and was a central location for much of Jesus's ministry.

Decapolis was a group of cities with Hellenistic influence and a significant non-Jewish population.

Jesus’s travels to these areas reflect His universal approach to ministry, emphasizing that His message was for all people.

Theological Insights

Different theological traditions have various insights into this verse:

Traditional Christian theology might emphasize that Jesus's travel through Gentile regions foreshadowed the eventual spread of the Gospel to all nations.
Reformed theologians might discuss God's sovereignty in Jesus's choice of travel and how it fulfilled Old Testament prophesies concerning the inclusion of Gentiles in God’s plan of salvation.
Liberation theology might highlight Jesus's action as a model for inclusivity and a call to minister to marginalized and nontraditional groups in society.

Practical Applications

The teachings of this verse can be applied in the following ways:

It encourages believers to engage in cross-cultural missions and evangelism, reaching out to those who are different from themselves.
It inspires inclusivity within communities of faith, to welcome and serve individuals from varied backgrounds.
It serves as a reminder that no individual or group is beyond the scope of God's love and salvation.

Cross-References

Matthew 28:19 – "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
Isaiah 49:6 – "[...] I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth."
Mark 5:20 – "And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel."

Language Study

"Decapolis" (from the Greek "Dekapolis") literally means "Ten Cities." This term underlines the region's Greek and Roman influence.
"Sea of Galilee," in the original language, refers to Lake Kinneret or Gennesaret, a significant geographical feature in Jesus’ ministry.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The journeys of Jesus can be compared to the travels of other religious figures in ancient myths and religions.

For example, figures like Osiris in Egyptian mythology or Dionysus in Greek mythology also traveled extensively, either as a part of their divine duties or in stories that spread their cults.

However, Jesus's travels are grounded in a historical context, contrasted with the more mythological travel tales of pagan gods.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern geography and archaeology can provide insights into the paths Jesus might have taken based on terrain and historical trade routes.

Scientific analysis of these regions helps believers and scholars understand the distances and difficulties associated with travel in ancient times, providing a realistic backdrop to Jesus’s ministry.

Commentaries

Experts offer various interpretations of Mark 7:31:

Some commentaries focus on the significance of Jesus's intentional visit to Gentile regions as a mission strategy to show that the Kingdom of God is open to all.
Others highlight the text's geographical and cultural nuances, elucidating the sociopolitical barriers that Jesus would have encountered and overcome.
Still, others may point to the practical aspects of Jesus's journey, discussing how travel between these areas would have been accomplished and what it implies about His ministry’s reach.

Mark 7

Mark 7

What does Mark 7:31 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 7:31 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?