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.”