Introduction

Mark 7 challenges religious assumptions about purity. The Pharisees focus on external rituals; Jesus looks at the heart. What defiles a person is not what goes in but what comes out. The chapter then takes Jesus beyond Israel's borders, where Gentiles experience His power—foreshadowing the gospel's reach to all nations.

Tradition Versus Commandment (Verses 1-13)

[1-13] Pharisees and scribes challenge Jesus about handwashing; He exposes their misplaced priorities.

• From Jerusalem: [1] Pharisees and scribes come from Jerusalem—the religious headquarters—to investigate Jesus.
• Unwashed Hands: [2-4] They see some disciples eating with defiled (unwashed) hands. Mark explains Jewish customs: Pharisees and all Jews do not eat unless they wash hands in a special way, following the tradition of the elders.
• The Accusation: [5] They ask Jesus why His disciples do not walk according to the tradition of the elders.
• "Hypocrites": [6-7] Jesus quotes Isaiah 29:13: "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." They have elevated human tradition to the level of divine command.
• Leaving God's Commandment: [8-9] They leave the commandment of God and hold to human tradition. They have a fine way of rejecting God's commandment to establish their own tradition.
• The Corban Example: [10-13] Moses commanded honor for father and mother. But they allow someone to say "Corban" (dedicated to God) over resources that should support parents, exempting them from parental care. Thus they nullify God's word for the sake of tradition.

What Defiles a Person (Verses 14-23)

[14-23] Jesus teaches the revolutionary truth about true defilement.

• Calling the Crowd: [14-15] Jesus calls the people to hear and understand: "There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him."
• Disciples Ask: [17] When He enters the house away from the crowd, His disciples ask about the parable.
• "Do You Not Understand?": [18-19] Jesus asks if they are also without understanding. Whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile, because it enters not the heart but the stomach and is expelled. (Mark notes: Thus He declared all foods clean.)
• What Comes from Within: [20-23] What comes out of a person is what defiles. From within, out of the heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a person.

The Syrophoenician Woman's Faith (Verses 24-30)

[24-30] A Gentile woman's persistence breaks through every barrier.

• To Tyre: [24] Jesus goes to the region of Tyre (Gentile territory). He enters a house and does not want anyone to know, but He cannot be hidden.
• A Mother's Desperation: [25-26] A woman whose daughter has an unclean spirit hears about Him, comes, and falls at His feet. She is a Gentile, a Syrophoenician. She begs Him to cast out the demon.
• "Let the Children Be Fed First": [27] Jesus says: "Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." The children are Israel; "dogs" was a common Jewish term for Gentiles. The statement sounds harsh but tests her faith.
• "Even the Dogs": [28] She answers: "Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." She accepts her position but presses for even scraps of mercy. Crumbs from Jesus are enough.
• "For This Statement, Go": [29-30] Jesus says: "For this statement you may go; the demon has left your daughter." She goes home and finds the child lying in bed, the demon gone. Her humble faith overcame every obstacle.

Healing a Deaf Man (Verses 31-37)

[31-37] Jesus heals a deaf man with a speech impediment in the Decapolis.

• Through Sidon to the Decapolis: [31] Jesus returns from Tyre through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis—Gentile territory again.
• A Deaf Man Brought: [32] They bring a man who is deaf and has a speech impediment, begging Jesus to lay His hand on him.
• Private Healing: [33] Taking him aside from the crowd privately, Jesus puts His fingers into his ears and, after spitting, touches his tongue.
• "Ephphatha": [34] Looking up to heaven, He sighs and says "Ephphatha"—"Be opened." Mark preserves the Aramaic word.
• Immediately Opened: [35] Immediately his ears are opened, his tongue is released, and he speaks plainly.
• Charged to Tell No One: [36] Jesus charges them to tell no one. But the more He charges them, the more zealously they proclaim it.
• "He Has Done All Things Well": [37] They are astonished beyond measure: "He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak." Echoing Isaiah 35:5-6, they recognize that messianic power is present.

Key Takeaways

• The Heart Is What Matters: External rituals cannot purify an internal problem. Defilement comes from within.
• Tradition Must Not Override Scripture: When human traditions contradict God's Word, they must yield.
• Faith Overcomes Barriers: The Syrophoenician woman's humble persistence received what her status could not claim.
• Jesus Opens Ears and Mouths: He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak—physically and spiritually.

Reflection Questions

• What religious traditions might you be following that have become more important than God's actual commands?
• Jesus said all evil comes from the heart. What does that teach you about where spiritual change must happen?
• The Syrophoenician woman accepted "crumbs" from Jesus. Are you willing to humble yourself to receive whatever He offers?