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Mark7

English Standard Version

1 when the , of the who had ,

2 that of with that were , that , .

3( the the do they their properly, to the of the ,

4 when they come the , they do they . there traditions they , such as the of and . )

5 the the , do to the of the , with ?

6 he to , did , it is , with their , ;

7 do they , as the of .

8 the of and to the of .

9 he to , You have a of the of in order !

10 , your ; , Whoever .

11 , a his his , you would have is (that is, to God) —

12 you no to for ,

13thus the of by you have . you .

14 he the to him and to , , of you, :

15There a by , the that of a are what .

17 he had the and the , the .

18 he to , ? Do you a from ,

19 it , is ? ( Thus he .)

20 he , a is .

21 from , out the of , , , , , ,

22 , , , , , , , .

23 from , they a .

24 from he and the of . he and did not to , he be .

25 a an and and down .

26 the a , a by . she the out .

27 to , the be , it to the it to the .

28 she , , ; even the the .

29 he to , you may go your ; the has .

30 she the the .

31 he the of and through of , the of .

32 they to a man who was and had a , they his on .

33 the , he , .

34 , he to , , that , Be .

35 were , was , he .

36 Jesus them no . the , the it.

37 they were , , He has all . He the the .

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Mark 7.

Full AI study →

Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The traditions of the elders. (1–13). What defiles the man. (14–23). The woman of Canaan's daughter cured. (24–30). Christ restores a man to hearing and speech. (31–37).

vv1-13

One great design of Christ's coming was, to set aside the ceremonial law; and to make way for this, he rejects the ceremonies men added to the law of God's making. Those clean hands and that pure heart which Christ bestows on his disciples, and requires of them, are very different from the outward and superstitious forms of Pharisees of every age. Jesus reproves them for rejecting the commandment of God. It is clear that it is the duty of children, if their parents are poor, to relieve them as far as they are able; and if children deserve to die that curse their parents, much more those that starve them. But if a man conformed to the traditions of the Pharisees, they found a device to free him from the claim of this duty.

vv14-23

Our wicked thoughts and affections, words and actions, defile us, and these only. As a corrupt fountain sends forth corrupt streams, so does a corrupt heart send forth corrupt reasonings, corrupt appetites and passions, and all the wicked words and actions that come from them. A spiritual understanding of the law of God, and a sense of the evil of sin, will cause a man to seek for the grace of the Holy Spirit, to keep down the evil thoughts and affections that work within.

vv24-30

Christ never put any from him that fell at his feet, which a poor trembling soul may do. As she was a good woman, so a good mother. This sent her to Christ. His saying, Let the children first be filled, shows that there was mercy for the Gentiles, and not far off. She spoke, not as making light of the mercy, but magnifying the abundance of miraculous cures among the Jews, in comparison with which a single cure was but as a crumb. Thus, while proud Pharisees are left by the blessed Saviour, he manifests his compassion to poor humbled sinners, who look to him for children's bread. He still goes about to seek and save the lost.

Cross References

Mark 7
v6Matthew 15:7-9allusion

Direct parallel in Matthew where Jesus exposes the scribes and Pharisees' hypocrisy using Isaiah.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v6Isaiah 29:13quotation

Isaiah passage quoted by Jesus regarding hypocritical lip-service and human-mandated traditions.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v10Exodus 20:12quotation

The Fifth Commandment quoted by Jesus to expose the Pharisees' tradition of Corban.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v10Exodus 21:17quotation

Mosaic law prescribing death for cursing parents, cited by Jesus to counter Pharisees.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v24Matthew 15:21-28thematic

Matthew's parallel narrative of the Syrophoenician woman's extraordinary faith and daughter's healing.

Supported by JFB

v21Matthew 15:19thematic

Matthew's parallel catalog of evil things proceeding directly from the human heart.

Supported by John Calvin

v25Matthew 15:22thematic

Parallel details her cry, addressing Jesus as "Son of David," omitted in Mark's account.

Supported by JFB

v32Isaiah 35:5fulfillment

Messianic prophecy of ears of the deaf being unstopped, fulfilled in Jesus' miracle.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v32Isaiah 35:6fulfillment

Messianic prophecy that the tongue of the dumb shall sing, fulfilled in this healing.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v4Hebrews 9:10thematic

Apostolic teaching on carnal ordinances and divers washings imposed until the time of reformation.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v7Colossians 2:22thematic

Paul's warning against doctrines and commandments of men regarding food and rituals.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v21Genesis 6:5thematic

First biblical diagnosis of the human heart's total corruption, echoing Jesus' statement.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v27Matthew 7:6thematic

Jesus' teaching on not casting pearls before swine, echoing the term "dogs."

Supported by JFB

v27Matthew 10:5contrast

Prohibition against going to Gentiles, illustrating why the woman's healing was an exception.

Supported by JFB