About Mark

Mark presents Jesus as the suffering Servant of God, emphasizing His actions and authority.

Author: John MarkWritten: c. AD 50-65Reading time: ~5 minVerses: 37
ServantActionAuthoritySufferingDiscipleshipMessianic Secret

King James Version

Mark 7

37 verses with commentary

Traditions and Commandments

Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.

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Then came together unto him the Pharisees... Religious leaders from Jerusalem investigate Jesus. This passage demonstrates Christ's divine authority and teaching, challenging religious traditions while establishing kingdom principles. Reformed theology sees here the fulfillment of Old Testament promises and the pattern for New Covenant faith.

And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. defiled: or, common

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Mark 7:2 This passage continues Mark's fast-paced narrative demonstrating Jesus' divine authority, miraculous power, and confrontation with religious establishment. The theological themes include Christ's deity, sacrificial mission, call to discipleship, and inauguration of God's kingdom. Reformed interpretation emphasizes sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and transformation through regeneration.

For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. oft: or, diligently: in the original, with the fist: Theophylact, up to the elbow

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Mark 7:3 This passage continues Mark's fast-paced narrative demonstrating Jesus' divine authority, miraculous power, and confrontation with religious establishment. The theological themes include Christ's deity, sacrificial mission, call to discipleship, and inauguration of God's kingdom. Reformed interpretation emphasizes sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and transformation through regeneration.

And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. pots: sextarius is about a pint and an half tables: or, beds

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Mark 7:4 This passage continues Mark's fast-paced narrative demonstrating Jesus' divine authority, miraculous power, and confrontation with religious establishment. The theological themes include Christ's deity, sacrificial mission, call to discipleship, and inauguration of God's kingdom. Reformed interpretation emphasizes sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and transformation through regeneration.

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

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Mark 7:5 This passage continues Mark's fast-paced narrative demonstrating Jesus' divine authority, miraculous power, and confrontation with religious establishment. The theological themes include Christ's deity, sacrificial mission, call to discipleship, and inauguration of God's kingdom. Reformed interpretation emphasizes sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and transformation through regeneration.

He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

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He answered said Well has Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites as it is written This people honors me with lips but heart is far from me. Jesus quotes Isaiah 29:13. Hypocrites hupokritai actors wearing masks. This people houtosho laos. Honors tima external show. With lips tois cheilesin verbal confession. But de contrast. Heart kardia inner reality. Is far from me apechei long distance separation. External religion without internal reality. Form without substance. Going through motions. Reformed theology emphasizes distinction between form and power of religion. Outward observance does not equal salvation. Circumcision of heart not just flesh. True faith internal transformation visible in life but rooted in heart. External conformity without internal change is hypocrisy.

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

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Howbeit in vain do they worship me teaching doctrines commandments of men. In vain matēn empty futility. Worship sebomai reverence. Teaching didaskontes instruction. Doctrines didaskalias teachings. Commandments entalmata rules. Of men anthrōpōn human origin. Human tradition substituted for divine command. Worship God rejected when mixed with human additions. Reformation principle sola scriptura. Reformed theology rejects traditions contradict Scripture. True worship according to God word not human invention.

For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

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Mark 7:8 This passage continues Mark's fast-paced narrative demonstrating Jesus' divine authority, miraculous power, and confrontation with religious establishment. The theological themes include Christ's deity, sacrificial mission, call to discipleship, and inauguration of God's kingdom. Reformed interpretation emphasizes sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and transformation through regeneration.

And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. reject: or, frustrate

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Mark 7:9 This passage continues Mark's fast-paced narrative demonstrating Jesus' divine authority, miraculous power, and confrontation with religious establishment. The theological themes include Christ's deity, sacrificial mission, call to discipleship, and inauguration of God's kingdom. Reformed interpretation emphasizes sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and transformation through regeneration.

For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

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Mark 7:10 This passage continues Mark's fast-paced narrative demonstrating Jesus' divine authority, miraculous power, and confrontation with religious establishment. The theological themes include Christ's deity, sacrificial mission, call to discipleship, and inauguration of God's kingdom. Reformed interpretation emphasizes sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and transformation through regeneration.

But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

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Mark 7:11 This passage continues Mark's fast-paced narrative demonstrating Jesus' divine authority, miraculous power, and confrontation with religious establishment. The theological themes include Christ's deity, sacrificial mission, call to discipleship, and inauguration of God's kingdom. Reformed interpretation emphasizes sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and transformation through regeneration.

And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

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Mark 7:12 This passage continues Mark's fast-paced narrative demonstrating Jesus' divine authority, miraculous power, and confrontation with religious establishment. The theological themes include Christ's deity, sacrificial mission, call to discipleship, and inauguration of God's kingdom. Reformed interpretation emphasizes sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and transformation through regeneration.

Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

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Mark 7:13 This passage continues Mark's fast-paced narrative demonstrating Jesus' divine authority, miraculous power, and confrontation with religious establishment. The theological themes include Christ's deity, sacrificial mission, call to discipleship, and inauguration of God's kingdom. Reformed interpretation emphasizes sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and transformation through regeneration.

What Defiles a Person

And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:

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And when he had called all the people... Jesus teaches crowds about defilement. This passage demonstrates Christ's divine authority and teaching, challenging religious traditions while establishing kingdom principles. Reformed theology sees here the fulfillment of Old Testament promises and the pattern for New Covenant faith.

There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

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Nothing from outside entering defiles but things coming out defile. Revolutionary teaching challenges ceremonial purity laws. External ritual cannot make spiritually clean. Defilement is internal moral not external physical. Heart is source of sin not diet. Jesus fulfilled ceremonial law showed its purpose pointing to greater reality. Reformed theology sees fulfillment of ceremonial law in Christ. Moral law continues ceremonial shadows fulfilled.

If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

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Mark 7:16 This passage continues Mark's fast-paced narrative demonstrating Jesus' divine authority, miraculous power, and confrontation with religious establishment. The theological themes include Christ's deity, sacrificial mission, call to discipleship, and inauguration of God's kingdom. Reformed interpretation emphasizes sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and transformation through regeneration.

And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.

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Mark 7:17 This passage continues Mark's fast-paced narrative demonstrating Jesus' divine authority, miraculous power, and confrontation with religious establishment. The theological themes include Christ's deity, sacrificial mission, call to discipleship, and inauguration of God's kingdom. Reformed interpretation emphasizes sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and transformation through regeneration.

And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

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Mark 7:18 This passage continues Mark's fast-paced narrative demonstrating Jesus' divine authority, miraculous power, and confrontation with religious establishment. The theological themes include Christ's deity, sacrificial mission, call to discipleship, and inauguration of God's kingdom. Reformed interpretation emphasizes sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and transformation through regeneration.

Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

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Mark 7:19 This passage continues Mark's fast-paced narrative demonstrating Jesus' divine authority, miraculous power, and confrontation with religious establishment. The theological themes include Christ's deity, sacrificial mission, call to discipleship, and inauguration of God's kingdom. Reformed interpretation emphasizes sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and transformation through regeneration.

And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

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Mark 7:20 This passage continues Mark's fast-paced narrative demonstrating Jesus' divine authority, miraculous power, and confrontation with religious establishment. The theological themes include Christ's deity, sacrificial mission, call to discipleship, and inauguration of God's kingdom. Reformed interpretation emphasizes sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and transformation through regeneration.

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

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From within out of heart proceed evil thoughts adulteries fornications murders. From within esōthen source. Heart kardias center of person. Proceed ekporeuetai originate come forth. Evil thoughts dialogismoi kakoi sinful intentions. List of sins follows. Heart is fountain of sin. Not environment circumstances upbringing but fallen nature. Total depravity doctrine humans utterly affected by sin every faculty. Reformed theology affirms original sin inherited corruption from Adam. Sin is not merely actions but condition state of heart.

Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: covetousness: Gr. covetousnesses, wickednesses

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Mark 7:22 This passage continues Mark's fast-paced narrative demonstrating Jesus' divine authority, miraculous power, and confrontation with religious establishment. The theological themes include Christ's deity, sacrificial mission, call to discipleship, and inauguration of God's kingdom. Reformed interpretation emphasizes sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and transformation through regeneration.

All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

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Mark 7:23 This passage continues Mark's fast-paced narrative demonstrating Jesus' divine authority, miraculous power, and confrontation with religious establishment. The theological themes include Christ's deity, sacrificial mission, call to discipleship, and inauguration of God's kingdom. Reformed interpretation emphasizes sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and transformation through regeneration.

The Syrophoenician Woman's Faith

And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.

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Mark 7:24 This passage continues Mark's fast-paced narrative demonstrating Jesus' divine authority, miraculous power, and confrontation with religious establishment. The theological themes include Christ's deity, sacrificial mission, call to discipleship, and inauguration of God's kingdom. Reformed interpretation emphasizes sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and transformation through regeneration.

For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:

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Mark 7:25 This passage continues Mark's fast-paced narrative demonstrating Jesus' divine authority, miraculous power, and confrontation with religious establishment. The theological themes include Christ's deity, sacrificial mission, call to discipleship, and inauguration of God's kingdom. Reformed interpretation emphasizes sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and transformation through regeneration.

The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. Greek: or, Gentile Greek: or, Gentile

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Mark 7:26 This passage continues Mark's fast-paced narrative demonstrating Jesus' divine authority, miraculous power, and confrontation with religious establishment. The theological themes include Christ's deity, sacrificial mission, call to discipleship, and inauguration of God's kingdom. Reformed interpretation emphasizes sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and transformation through regeneration.

But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.

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Mark 7:27 This passage continues Mark's fast-paced narrative demonstrating Jesus' divine authority, miraculous power, and confrontation with religious establishment. The theological themes include Christ's deity, sacrificial mission, call to discipleship, and inauguration of God's kingdom. Reformed interpretation emphasizes sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and transformation through regeneration.

And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.

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Mark 7:28 This passage continues Mark's fast-paced narrative demonstrating Jesus' divine authority, miraculous power, and confrontation with religious establishment. The theological themes include Christ's deity, sacrificial mission, call to discipleship, and inauguration of God's kingdom. Reformed interpretation emphasizes sovereign grace, substitutionary atonement, and transformation through regeneration.

And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.

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For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out—Jesus commends the Syrophoenician woman's persistent faith. Her humble response demonstrated both faith and theological insight, acknowledging Israel's priority while trusting God's abundance extends beyond Jewish boundaries. The Greek perfect tense indicates completed, permanent demon expulsion. Remarkably, Jesus heals at a distance without physical presence—demonstrating sovereign authority transcending proximity. This account breaks multiple boundaries: geographical (Gentile territory), ethnic (Phoenician), gender (woman initiating dialogue), religious (pagan). Yet Jesus responds to persistent faith wherever found. Her boldness teaches that true faith pursues Christ relentlessly despite seeming rejection.

And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

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She found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed—The mother witnesses the fulfilled promise. The daughter rests peacefully, no longer tormented. The Greek perfect participle emphasizes complete, permanent departure—exactly as Jesus declared. This demonstrates Christ's word reliability: He spoke deliverance, the woman believed, reality confirmed His promise. This models Christian faith—believing promises unseen, trusting Christ's word accomplishes what it declares. The transformation from torment to peace pictures salvation's effect—Christ's word liberates from spiritual bondage, replacing Satan's tyranny with God's peace.

Jesus Heals a Deaf Man

And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.

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Departing from Tyre and Sidon, through the Decapolis—Jesus's geographical movements are theologically significant. This circuitous route—through Sidon, then the Decapolis (ten cities), a Gentile region—indicates intentional ministry among Gentiles. The Decapolis was where Jesus healed the Gerasene demoniac who proclaimed what Jesus did (Mark 5:20). Now Jesus returns. Faithful witness prepared soil for fruitful ministry. Jesus's Gentile ministry prefigures the Great Commission—though His earthly mission targeted Israel primarily, He repeatedly ministered to Gentiles, foreshadowing the gospel to all nations (Ephesians 2:14).

And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.

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They bring one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech—The Greek describes difficulty speaking—possibly mute or severely impaired. This rare word appears in Isaiah 35:6's Septuagint, prophesying messianic signs: the lame leaping, the dumb tongue singing. Mark's vocabulary evokes Isaiah's prophecy, signaling Jesus fulfills messianic expectations. The crowd's request for Jesus's touch demonstrates belief His touch conveys healing. This man's condition created profound isolation—unable to hear or speak clearly, he lived relationally disconnected. Healing restored not just physical faculties but relationship capacity. Spiritually, this pictures pre-salvation humanity: deaf to God's voice, unable to speak His praise, isolated from divine-human communion.

And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;

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He took him aside from the multitude—Jesus withdrew the man privately, demonstrating dignity sensitivity. Public spectacle was not Jesus's goal; healing the person was. This allowed undivided attention without overwhelming crowds. Jesus individualizes care. He put his fingers into his ears, and spit, and touched his tongue—employing physical actions communicating healing intention to a deaf man who could not hear verbal explanation. These accommodated the man's condition, using sensory communication he could perceive. Jesus did not need ritual—His word sufficed—but these actions met the man where he was, modeling incarnational ministry.

And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

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Looking up to heaven, he sighed—Jesus's upward gaze directed the man's attention to heaven, the source of healing power. Though possessing intrinsic divine authority, Jesus modeled dependence on the Father (John 5:19). The Greek verb for sighed reveals Jesus's emotional response to human suffering—not clinical detachment but deep compassion. This echoes Romans 8:22-23, where creation groans under bondage. Jesus entered fully into humanity's suffering, bearing our griefs (Isaiah 53:4). Ephphatha, that is, Be opened—Mark preserves Jesus's Aramaic, then translates for Greek readers. The command addressed both ears and speech simultaneously—comprehensive healing restoring full communicative capacity.

And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

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Straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain—Mark's characteristic adverb emphasizes instantaneous healing. No gradual improvement—the ears were opened (passive voice: God acted), the tongue's bond was loosed. The imagery recalls Isaiah 58:6: loose the bonds of wickedness, let the oppressed go free. Jesus's healings embodied jubilee liberation—the Messiah releasing captives (Luke 4:18-19). Physical healings signaled deeper spiritual reality: Christ unbinds humanity from sin's bondage, opens deaf ears to God's voice, looses mute tongues to worship. He spake plain—clearly, correctly. This completeness characterizes all Jesus's healings—full renewal, previewing eschatological restoration when all creation is made new.

And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;

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He charged them that they should tell no man—Jesus repeatedly commanded silence after healings, the messianic secret motif. Several explanations: (1) avoiding premature confrontation before His appointed hour; (2) popular messianic expectations focused on political liberation from Rome rather than spiritual salvation; (3) Jesus prioritized teaching and relationship over signs. But the more he charged them, so much the more they published it—the more Jesus commanded silence, the more zealously they proclaimed. The Greek verb means heralded—gospel preaching terminology. They could not contain witness. This illustrates gospel power: genuine Christ encounter produces irrepressible testimony. The healed cannot stay silent (Acts 4:20).

And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

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Were beyond measure astonished. He hath done all things well—Mark intensifies Greek: exceedingly beyond measure astonishment, struck out of one's senses. Their amazement exceeded normal surprise—they witnessed something categorically unprecedented. This profound awe is appropriate response to divine in-breaking. The declaration he hath done all things well echoes Genesis 1:31: God saw everything he made, very good. The crowd recognizes Jesus's works parallel creation—He does all things well as God did creating the world. Not merely good but beautiful, fitting—restoration to original design. Jesus's healings reverse the Fall's curse, previewing new creation. He maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak—quoting Isaiah 35:5-6, messianic prophecy. Gentiles recognized what Jerusalem's scribes refused.

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