Mark 7 Jesus Teaches About True Defilement

1 Clean and Unclean
The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and

2 saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were “unclean,” that is, unwashed.

3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.

4 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.)

5 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 ‘unclean’ hands?”

6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
“‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.

7 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are but rules taught by men.’

8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.”

9 And he said to them: “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!

10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’

11 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God),

12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother.

13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”

14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this.

15 Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’”

17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable.

18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him ‘unclean’?

19 For it doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods “clean.”)

20 He went on: “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’

21 For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,

22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.

23 All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’”

24 The Faith of a Syrophoenician Woman
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.

25 In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet.

26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

27 “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 their dogs.”

28 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

29 Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”

30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

31 The Healing of a Deaf and Mute Man
Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.

32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.

33 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.

34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”).

35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it.

37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

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Analysis of Mark Chapter 7

The seventh chapter of the Gospel of Mark presents a profound discourse on the themes of tradition versus God’s commandments, the nature of true defilement, and the inclusivity of Jesus’ mission. This chapter is rich with lessons on the hierarchy of religious practices, the importance of inner purity over outward conformity, and the expanding reach of Jesus’ healing and teaching ministry.

The Pharisees and the Tradition of the Elders (Mark 7:1-13)

Mark 7 opens with an encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees/Scribes who had come from Jerusalem. This section (verses 1-13) sets the stage for a contrast between human traditions and divine commandments:

“Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them.” (Mark 7:1-2, NRSV)

The Pharisees question Jesus about why His disciples do not follow the traditional hand-washing rituals, which were part of the “tradition of the elders”. Jesus responds by quoting Isaiah, emphasizing how their traditions have corrupted the essence of worship:

“He said to them, ‘Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,
‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching human precepts as doctrines.’” (Mark 7:6-7, NRSV)

Jesus highlights their hypocrisy by pointing out that they elevate human traditions at the expense of God’s commandments. For example, in verses 9-13, He criticizes their practice of ‘Corban’ (declaring something dedicated to God to avoid supporting one’s parents), thus nullifying the command to honor one’s father and mother. This discourse reveals a significant aspect of Jesus’ teachings: the importance of inner fidelity to God’s commands over mere external observance.

The Parable of Defilement (Mark 7:14-23)

Jesus continues His teaching on what truly defiles a person in verses 14-23. He calls the crowd together and explains:

“Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.” (Mark 7:14-15, NRSV)

When His disciples ask for clarification, Jesus elaborates that it is not external factors or substances that make someone unclean, but what emanates from within. This teaching upends the traditional Jewish notions of ritual purity, as Jesus focuses on moral and spiritual integrity. He lists vices such as evil thoughts, theft, murder, and adultery, stressing that these internal corruptions defile a person, not the consumption of food with unwashed hands.

“For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly.” (Mark 7:21-22, NRSV)

This insight into the source of true moral defilement shifts the focus from external ritual to the condition of the heart. It underscores the insufficiency of mere ritual cleanliness if it is not accompanied by inner moral purity.

The Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith (Mark 7:24-30)

The next section of Mark 7 presents the story of the Syrophoenician woman (verses 24-30), highlighting Jesus’ inclusive mission and the power of faith. Jesus travels to the region of Tyre and Sidon, areas with predominantly Gentile populations, further signifying the outreach of His ministry beyond the confines of Jewish territory:

“A woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet.” (Mark 7:25, NRSV)

The woman, a Gentile, pleads for her daughter’s healing. Jesus initially responds with a seemingly harsh remark, indicating that His mission was first to the Jews (the children) before the Gentiles (the dogs). However, the woman’s humble yet bold reply reflects profound faith and humility:

“She answered him, ‘Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’” (Mark 7:28, NRSV)

Impressed by her faith and persistence, Jesus heals her daughter, demonstrating that faith transcends ethnic and cultural boundaries. This encounter is pivotal as it shows Jesus’ recognition of the sincere faith found among Gentiles, prefiguring the wider mission of the Gospel.

The Healing of a Deaf and Mute Man (Mark 7:31-37)

In the concluding section of this chapter (verses 31-37), Jesus heals a man who is deaf and has a speech impediment. This miracle, occurring in the region of Decapolis, is detailed with a sense of intimate interaction:

“He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha,’ that is, ‘Be opened.’” (Mark 7:33-34, NRSV)

Jesus’ actions here (touching the ears and tongue, looking up to heaven, and the spoken command) denote a compassionate and personal approach to healing. The healing of the deaf and mute man not only reveals Jesus’ divine power but also symbolizes the opening of spiritual understanding and the proclamation of God’s works. The people’s reaction emphasizes the marvel of Jesus’ deeds:

“They were astounded beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.’” (Mark 7:37, NRSV)

This miracle encapsulates the restoration that Jesus brings, reinforcing that God’s kingdom includes transformative and holistic healing, both physical and spiritual.

Conclusion

Mark 7 is a theologically rich chapter that challenges superficial religious observances and emphasizes the precedence of inner purity and the transformational power of faith. Jesus confronts the Pharisaic legalism that upholds human traditions over divine commands, teaching instead that true defilement arises from within. Through the healing of the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter and the deaf-mute man, Jesus exemplifies a faith that transcends ethnic boundaries and proclaims the inclusivity of His mission. This chapter reorients the understanding of holiness, moves beyond ritual purity, and highlights the profound importance of faith, humility, and divine mercy. Mark 7 presents a powerful narrative that compels readers to reflect deeply on the essence of true discipleship and the boundless scope of Jesus’ saving grace.

Understanding the Key Messages in Mark 7: Insights and Explanation

In this chapter, Jesus teaches the Pharisees and the crowd about the true source of defilement, emphasizing the importance of inward purity over outward rituals. He warns against the hypocrisy of traditionalism and calls for genuine faith that produces fruit in a person's life.

Notes

The chapter also includes the healing of a Syrophoenician woman's daughter and the miraculous feeding of the four thousand.