Thematic Bible
Mark 7:1 (show verse)
Now the Pharisees and some of the scribes came from Jerusalem and gathered around Him,
Mark 7:2 (show verse)
and they had seen that some of His disciples ate their bread with [ceremonially] impure hands, that is, unwashed [and defiled according to Jewish religious ritual].
Mark 7:3 (show verse)
(For the Pharisees and all of the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, holding firmly to the traditions of the elders;
Mark 7:4 (show verse)
and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves [completely according to ritual]; and there are many other things [oral, man-made laws and traditions handed down to them] which they follow diligently, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper utensils.)
Mark 7:5 (show verse)
So the Pharisees and scribes asked Jesus, “Why do Your disciples not live their lives according to the tradition of the elders, but [instead] eat their bread with [ceremonially] unwashed hands?”
Mark 7:6 (show verse)
He replied, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites (play-actors, pretenders), as it is written [in Scripture],
‘These people honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
Mark 7:7 (show verse)
Mark 7:8 (show verse)
Mark 7:9 (show verse)
He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside and nullifying the commandment of God in order to keep your [man-made] tradition and regulations.
Mark 7:10 (show verse)
Mark 7:11 (show verse)
Mark 7:12 (show verse)
Mark 7:13 (show verse)
Mark 7:14 (show verse)
After He called the people to Him again, He began saying to them, “Listen [carefully] to Me, all of you, [hear] and understand [what I am saying]:
Mark 7:15 (show verse)
Mark 7:16 (show verse)
Mark 7:17 (show verse)
When Jesus had left the crowd and gone into the house, His disciples asked Him about the parable.
Mark 7:18 (show verse)
And He said to them, “Are you, too, so foolish and lacking in understanding? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile and dishonor him,
Mark 7:19 (show verse)
Mark 7:20 (show verse)
And He said, “Whatever comes from [the heart of] a man, that is what defiles and dishonors him.
Mark 7:21 (show verse)
Mark 7:22 (show verse)
Mark 7:23 (show verse)
Mark 7:24 (show verse)
Jesus got up and left there and went to the region of Tyre [and Sidon, the coastal area of Phoenicia]. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know about it; but it was impossible for Him to be hidden [from the public].
Mark 7:25 (show verse)
Instead, after hearing about Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet.
Mark 7:26 (show verse)
Now the woman was a Gentile (Greek), a Syrophoenician by nationality. And she kept pleading with Him to drive the demon out of her daughter.
Mark 7:27 (show verse)
He was saying to her, “First let the children [of Israel] be fed, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the pet dogs (non-Jews).”
Mark 7:28 (show verse)
But she replied, “Yes, Lord, but even the pet dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
Mark 7:29 (show verse)
And He said to her, “Because of this answer [reflecting your humility and faith], go [knowing that your request is granted]; the demon has left your daughter [permanently].”
Mark 7:30 (show verse)
And returning to her home, she found the child lying on the couch [relaxed and resting], the demon having gone.
Mark 7:31 (show verse)
Soon after this Jesus left the region of Tyre, and passed through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of Decapolis [the ten Hellenistic cities].
Mark 7:32 (show verse)
They brought to Him a man who was deaf and had difficulty speaking, and they begged Jesus to place His hand on him.
Mark 7:33 (show verse)
Jesus, taking him aside by himself, away from the crowd, put His fingers into the man’s ears, and after spitting, He touched the man’s tongue [with the saliva];
Mark 7:34 (show verse)
and looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to the man, “Ephphatha,” which [in Aramaic] means, “Be opened and released!”
Mark 7:35 (show verse)
And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he began speaking plainly.
Mark 7:36 (show verse)
Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone; but the more He ordered them, the more widely they continued to proclaim it.
Mark 7:37 (show verse)
They were thoroughly astounded and completely overwhelmed, saying, “He has done everything well! He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak!”