Mark 7

1 et conveniunt ad eum Pharisaei et quidam de scribis venientes ab Hierosolymis

2 et cum vidissent quosdam ex discipulis eius communibus manibus id est non lotis manducare panes vituperaverunt

3 Pharisaei enim et omnes Iudaei nisi crebro lavent manus non manducant tenentes traditionem seniorum

4 et a foro nisi baptizentur non comedunt et alia multa sunt quae tradita sunt illis servare baptismata calicum et urceorum et aeramentorum et lectorum

5 et interrogant eum Pharisaei et scribae quare discipuli tui non ambulant iuxta traditionem seniorum sed communibus manibus manducant panem

6 at ille respondens dixit eis bene prophetavit Esaias de vobis hypocritis sicut scriptum est populus hic labiis me honorat cor autem eorum longe est a me

7 in vanum autem me colunt docentes doctrinas praecepta hominum

8 relinquentes enim mandatum Dei tenetis traditionem hominum baptismata urceorum et calicum et alia similia his facitis multa

9 et dicebat illis bene irritum facitis praeceptum Dei ut traditionem vestram servetis

10 Moses enim dixit honora patrem tuum et matrem tuam et qui maledixerit patri aut matri morte moriatur

11 vos autem dicitis si dixerit homo patri aut matri corban quod est donum quodcumque ex me tibi profuerit

12 et ultra non dimittitis eum quicquam facere patri suo aut matri

13 rescindentes verbum Dei per traditionem vestram quam tradidistis et similia huiusmodi multa facitis

14 et advocans iterum turbam dicebat illis audite me omnes et intellegite

15 nihil est extra hominem introiens in eum quod possit eum coinquinare sed quae de homine procedunt illa sunt quae communicant hominem

16 si quis habet aures audiendi audiat

17 et cum introisset in domum a turba interrogabant eum discipuli eius parabolam

18 et ait illis sic et vos inprudentes estis non intellegitis quia omne extrinsecus introiens in hominem non potest eum communicare

19 quia non introit in cor eius sed in ventrem et in secessum exit purgans omnes escas

20 dicebat autem quoniam quae de homine exeunt illa communicant hominem

21 ab intus enim de corde hominum cogitationes malae procedunt adulteria fornicationes homicidia

22 furta avaritiae nequitiae dolus inpudicitia oculus malus blasphemia superbia stultitia

23 omnia haec mala ab intus procedunt et communicant hominem

24 et inde surgens abiit in fines Tyri et Sidonis et ingressus domum neminem voluit scire et non potuit latere

25 mulier enim statim ut audivit de eo cuius habebat filia spiritum inmundum intravit et procidit ad pedes eius

26 erat autem mulier gentilis Syrophoenissa genere et rogabat eum ut daemonium eiceret de filia eius

27 qui dixit illi sine prius saturari filios non est enim bonum sumere panem filiorum et mittere canibus

28 at illa respondit et dicit ei utique Domine nam et catelli sub mensa comedunt de micis puerorum

29 et ait illi propter hunc sermonem vade exiit daemonium de filia tua

30 et cum abisset domum suam invenit puellam iacentem supra lectum et daemonium exisse

31 et iterum exiens de finibus Tyri venit per Sidonem ad mare Galilaeae inter medios fines Decapoleos

32 et adducunt ei surdum et mutum et deprecantur eum ut inponat illi manum

33 et adprehendens eum de turba seorsum misit digitos suos in auriculas et expuens tetigit linguam eius

34 et suspiciens in caelum ingemuit et ait illi eppheta quod est adaperire

35 et statim apertae sunt aures eius et solutum est vinculum linguae eius et loquebatur recte

36 et praecepit illis ne cui dicerent quanto autem eis praecipiebat tanto magis plus praedicabant

37 et eo amplius admirabantur dicentes bene omnia fecit et surdos facit audire et mutos loqui

Mark 7 Commentary

Chapter 7

The traditions of the elders. (1-13) What defiles the man. (14-23) The woman of Canaan's daughter cured. (24-30) Christ restores a man to hearing and speech. (31-37)

Verses 1-13 One great design of Christ's coming was, to set aside the ceremonial law; and to make way for this, he rejects the ceremonies men added to the law of God's making. Those clean hands and that pure heart which Christ bestows on his disciples, and requires of them, are very different from the outward and superstitious forms of Pharisees of every age. Jesus reproves them for rejecting the commandment of God. It is clear that it is the duty of children, if their parents are poor, to relieve them as far as they are able; and if children deserve to die that curse their parents, much more those that starve them. But if a man conformed to the traditions of the Pharisees, they found a device to free him from the claim of this duty.

Verses 14-23 Our wicked thoughts and affections, words and actions, defile us, and these only. As a corrupt fountain sends forth corrupt streams, so does a corrupt heart send forth corrupt reasonings, corrupt appetites and passions, and all the wicked words and actions that come from them. A spiritual understanding of the law of God, and a sense of the evil of sin, will cause a man to seek for the grace of the Holy Spirit, to keep down the evil thoughts and affections that work within.

Verses 24-30 Christ never put any from him that fell at his feet, which a poor trembling soul may do. As she was a good woman, so a good mother. This sent her to Christ. His saying, Let the children first be filled, shows that there was mercy for the Gentiles, and not far off. She spoke, not as making light of the mercy, but magnifying the abundance of miraculous cures among the Jews, in comparison with which a single cure was but as a crumb. Thus, while proud Pharisees are left by the blessed Saviour, he manifests his compassion to poor humbled sinners, who look to him for children's bread. He still goes about to seek and save the lost.

Verses 31-37 Here is a cure of one that was deaf and dumb. Those who brought this poor man to Christ, besought him to observe the case, and put forth his power. Our Lord used more outward actions in the doing of this cure than usual. These were only signs of Christ's power to cure the man, to encourage his faith, and theirs that brought him. Though we find great variety in the cases and manner of relief of those who applied to Christ, yet all obtained the relief they sought. Thus it still is in the great concerns of our souls.