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 7:36 mean?

Explanation

Mark 7:36 describes an incident where Jesus heals a person and then strictly instructs the witnesses not to tell anyone about what they have seen.

However, the verse immediately highlights a paradox: the more Jesus insists on confidentiality, the more the witnesses feel compelled to spread the news about the miracle they have witnessed.

This urge to share the news indicates a conflict between human excitement and divine command.

The healed individuals and onlookers are so amazed and moved by Jesus' miraculous works that they cannot keep the news to themselves, even in the face of a direct order from Christ.

This reflects the natural human impulse to share good news and remarkable events, especially those involving supernatural or divine actions.

The verse can also be seen as an illustration of the spread of the gospel despite opposition or instruction to the contrary. It highlights the power of testimony and the inherent difficulties in keeping such profound truths under wraps.

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Historical Context

This verse is part of the Gospel of Mark, which is widely regarded as one of the earliest written accounts of Jesus' life, ministry, and teachings.

Most scholars date the authorship of Mark to around AD 65-70, within a few decades of Jesus' crucifixion.

The historical context in this section of Mark is Jesus' ministry in Galilee and surrounding regions.

At that time, Jesus was gaining popularity due to his teaching and miraculous works, which attracted both support and skepticism.

Despite the potential for increased opposition from religious authorities, Jesus' fame was growing.

The charge for secrecy may be related to what scholars call the "Messianic Secret," a theme in Mark's Gospel where Jesus regularly tells demons, healed individuals, and his disciples not to reveal his identity as the Messiah.

This injunction could have been to avoid political and social misunderstandings about the nature of his mission and to prevent a premature confrontation with the authorities.

Theological Insights

There are a variety of theological perspectives on this verse:

One view is that Jesus was attempting to control the spread of information about his miracles to focus on his teaching rather than just his ability to perform wonders.
Another perspective interprets the "Messianic Secret" as a means to gradually reveal Jesus' identity as the Christ, to ensure that it was understood in spiritual rather than political terms.
Some theologians suggest that the command to silence and its subsequent disobedience serve to illustrate the irresistible nature of the gospel message, it cannot be contained, even by direct command.

Practical Applications

From Mark 7:36, we can derive practical applications for daily life:

The difficulty of containing good news can remind us in our lives of the power of our testimonies and experiences when shared with others.
There is a time for discretion and a time for proclamation, and wisdom is needed to discern the proper moment for each.
The impulse to share can also serve as a reflection on how we communicate our beliefs and the enthusiasm with which we share important events or news with others.

Cross-References

Mark 1:44-45 - "And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter."

Mark 5:43 - "And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat."
Luke 8:56 - "And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the verse uses the word "διεστέιλατο" (diesteilato), which translates to "he charged," indicating a stern, emphatic instruction.

The word "κηρύσσω" (kēryssō), translated as "published," usually refers to proclaiming or preaching, often with an official or authoritative connotation.

The use of these words imbues the verse with a sense of importance and immediacy concerning Jesus' instructions and the actions of those who witnessed the miracle.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparisons to other ancient myths and religious interpretations may find parallels in stories where individuals are unable to keep divine or magical events secret.

For example, in some Greek myths, characters are instructed by gods to keep certain things secret but fail to do so, leading to various consequences.

In the context of Jewish tradition, the spread of remarkable news, especially relating to acts of God, would resonate with narratives in the Hebrew Scriptures where God's works are to be declared among the people, such as in the Psalms.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific understanding often considers the human psychological response to extraordinary events.

From this perspective, the behavior of the witnesses in Mark 7:36 might be examined through the lens of social psychology.

The excitement and cognitive dissonance created by witnessing a miracle could override the instruction to keep the event private, driving individuals to share their experience widely.

Commentaries

Experts and biblical scholars offer a range of interpretations for Mark 7:36:

Some commentaries focus on the motif of the "Messianic Secret," noting that Mark's Gospel uniquely emphasizes Jesus' recurrent commands to silence about his identity and works.
Others suggest that Mark's emphasis on the immediate proclamation by the witnesses, despite Jesus' injunction, serves to underscore the irresistible and transformative power of the miracles of Jesus.
There's also the viewpoint that Jesus' requests for secrecy might have been a didactic tool, used to engage deeper reflection on the part of the witnesses and to provoke a more profound internalization of the events they experienced.

Mark 7

Mark 7

What does Mark 7:36 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 7:36 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?