Frameworks:
Mark's Gospel chapter 7
(The
objective of these ‘Frameworks' is to provide an easy-to-read
layout of the text in order then to use these individual verses
for verse-by-verse study or meditation. To focus each
verse we have also added in italic a description of what is happening)
CHAPTER
7
v.1-15
Confrontation with the Pharisees about Cleanliness
v.17-23
Explanation for the disciples
v.24-30
Jesus deliver's a Greek Woman's daughter
v.31-37
Jesus heals a Deaf and Mute Man
v.1-15
Confrontation with the Pharisees about Cleanliness
v.1,2
(the Pharisees watch Jesus' disciples)
The Pharisees and some of the teachers
of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus
and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were
defiled, that is, unwashed.
v.3
(they were strict about cleanliness) (The
Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands
a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.
v.4
(the extent of their strictness) When
they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash.
And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of
cups, pitchers and kettles)
v.5
(so they challenge Jesus) So
the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don't
your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead
of eating their food with defiled hands?”
v.6,7
(he quotes Isaiah about their hardness)
He replied, “Isaiah was right
when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “‘These
people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from
me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely
human rules.' [Isa 29:13]
v.
8 (he condemns them)
You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human
traditions.”
v.9,10
(he cites the Old Testament) And
he continued, “You have
a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe
your own traditions! For Moses
said, ‘Honour your father and mother, '[Exo
20:12; Deut 5:16] and,
‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.
[Exo 21:17; Lev 20:9]
v.
11 (they found a loophole)
But you say that if anyone declares
that what might have been used to help their father or mother
is Corban (that is, devoted to God)—
v.
12 (this meant they dishonoured
their parents) then you no longer
let them do anything for their father or mother.
v.
13 (their traditions refuted
the Law) Thus you nullify the
word of God by your tradition that you have handed down.
And you do many things like that.”
v.14,15
(Jesus explains to the crowd) Again
Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen
to me, everyone, and understand this.
Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather,
it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”
v.17-23
Explanation for the disciples
v.17
(his disciples ask about it) After
he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked
him about this parable.
v.
18,19 (nothing from outside
the body can make them unclean) “Are
you so dull?” he asked.
“Don't you see that nothing
that enters a person from the outside can defile them?
For it doesn't go into their heart but into their stomach,
and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared
all foods clean.)
v.20
(it's what comes out of a person that counts)
He went on: “What
comes out of a person is what defiles them.
v.
21,22 (he lists the wrongs
of the heart) For it is from
within, out of a person's heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual
immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance
and folly.
v.
23 (these come from inside
us) All these evils come from
inside and defile a person.”
v.24-30
Jesus deliver's a Greek Woman's daughter
v.24
(Jesus secretly visits Tyre) Jesus
left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered
a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep
his presence secret.
v.25
(a needy mother hears about him and comes)
In fact, as soon as she heard about
him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure
spirit came and fell at his feet.
v.26
(a Greek, she begged for his help) The
woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus
to drive the demon out of her daughter.
v.
27 (Jesus implies what he
has is for the Jews) “First
let the children eat all they want,” he
told her, “for it is
not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs.”
v.28
(she suggests she can have the leftovers)
“Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs
under the table eat the children's crumbs.”
v.29
(he affirms her faith) Then
he told her, “For such
a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”
v.30
(on return her daughter is delivered)
She went home and found her child
lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
v.31-37
Jesus heals a Deaf and Mute Man
v.31
(Jesus returns south and east) Then
Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down
to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.
v.32
(a deaf mute was brought to him) There
some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly
talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.
v.33
(Jesus ministers to him in private) After
he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers
into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue.
v.34
(he commands healing) He
looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him,
“Ephphatha!” (which
means “Be opened!” ).
v.35
(the man is healed)
At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and
he began to speak plainly.
v.36
(Jesus asks for secrecy) Jesus
commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so,
the more they kept talking about it.
v.37
(people praise him) People
were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,”
they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”