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 7:35 mean?

Explanation

The verse, Mark 7:35, describes the immediate result of a healing performed by Jesus on a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment.

The account states that as soon as Jesus commanded the disability to leave, the man's hearing was restored, and he was able to speak clearly. This miracle, like many others performed by Jesus, demonstrated His power over physical infirmities and served as a sign pointing to His divine authority.

This verse also emphasizes the immediacy of the healing, suggesting the miracle was not only complete but also instantaneous.

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Historical Context

This event occurred during the time when Jesus was traveling and ministering in the region of Decapolis, a collective term for ten cities in what is now modern-day Jordan, Syria, and Israel.

It represents one part of Jesus's broader ministry to heal the sick and afflicted as recorded in the Gospels.

The Decapolis was a predominantly Gentile area, and this healing, along with others, signifies Jesus's ministry extending beyond the Jewish community to encompass all peoples.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse illustrates several key concepts.

Firstly, it shows Jesus fulfilling the prophetic expectation of the Messiah as one who would perform miraculous healings.

In Isaiah 35:5-6 it is prophesied that the eyes of the blind would be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped, which many believed to be a reference to the coming Messiah.

Secondly, the healing can be seen as an outward sign of spiritual renewal. Just as the man's ears were opened physically, this action points to the spiritual opening of ears to the message of the gospel.

Additionally, the loosening of his tongue parallels the enablement of believers to speak and witness about their faith.

Practical Applications

The healing described in Mark 7:35 can inspire contemporary Christians to believe in the power of God to change lives.

It encourages believers to bring their afflictions, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, to Jesus in prayer, trusting in His capacity to heal and restore.

The verse also serves as a metaphor for the transformative power of encountering the gospel: opening the ears to truth and loosening the tongue to speak it to others.

Cross-References

Isaiah 35:5-6: "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped."
Mark 7:32: "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."
Matthew 11:5: "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words such as "εὐθέως" (euthys) meaning "straightway" or "immediately," underscore the instantaneous nature of the miracle.

The phrase "ἐλαλεῖν ὀρθὸς" (elalein orthos) translates to "he spoke plain," with "ὀρθὸς" (orthos) commonly meaning "straight" or "correct," implying not just the ability to speak, but to speak clearly and properly, indicating a complete healing.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient cultures, stories of gods and divine beings performing miracles are common. For example, in ancient Egyptian mythology, the god Horus is said to restore sight.

However, what sets this narrative apart in the Christian context is the belief that Jesus is not just a divine being but God incarnate, and that His miracles serve a specific purpose in revealing God's kingdom and plan for humanity's salvation.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, spontaneous recovery from deafness and speech impediments without medical intervention is exceptionally rare and unexplained.

These accounts of miraculous healing in the Bible are often taken on faith by believers as divine intervention that cannot be accounted for by naturalistic explanations.

However, they invite contemplation on the interface between divine action and the physical world.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have offered various insights into this verse.

Some emphasize its literal historical occurrence as a narrative of Jesus's ministry and miracles. Others may interpret the event symbolically, suggesting the man's physical healing reflects the spiritual awakening that comes from encountering Christ.

Commentators from the medical field have occasionally explored the possible conditions the man might have suffered from, though most agree that the verse describes a supernatural event beyond the scope of medical science.

Mark 7

Mark 7

What does Mark 7:35 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 7:35 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?