Speaking of opening eyes and ears, today we will see much of that in today’s lesson. But first, let’s see how Jesus handles more of the pharisees and elders. Mark 7 and verse 1 reads.
Mark 7
[1] Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.
[2] And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
Just so we understand this, what they are talking about isn’t washing your hands before you eat, what they are talking about is doing it ceremoniously washing of the hands. That means a little water here, a little water thrown over that shoulder, then this shoulder. All ceremoniously, they make a big show of it to be seen.
Mar.7:3] For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
Here we go, the traditions of the elders. Not the traditions of God, but of man.
Mar.7:4] 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.
Washing cups and such, I have seen myself in certain churches today. Beware of these churches, beware of traditions of men. They make void the word of God.
Mar.7:5] 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?
[6] 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.
Jesus said Isaiah prophesied of them. Where? In Isaiah 29:12-15, we are going there and it reads.
Isa.29:12] And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
[13] Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
These pharisees are those “not learned”. But the Lord continues…
Isa.29:14] Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
[15] Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
Jesus is that One that will do a Marvelous works for His people. Back to Mark and verse 7 reads.
Mar.7:7] Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctines the commandments of men.
[8] 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.
[9] And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Boldly Jesus speaks the truth, our example. He told them they rejected the commandments of God.
Mar.7:10] For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
Remember they claim to sit on the seat of Moses, “the law giver”.
Mar.7:11] 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.
Corban is when a man gives to the church the money that should have fed his mother or father in their elder years, when they can’t feed themselves. Meaning they will go hungry, but gives it to the church, well then it is a gift. I say filthy lucre, these pharisees only want money at any cost. Never mind the 5th. commandment of God. This is evil.
Mar.7:12] And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
[13] Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Traditions of men make void the word of God.
Mar.7:14] And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
[15] 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.
[16] If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
Jesus is talking to the multitude here. Letting them know that it is not about what food you eat, but rather what is in your heart, that defiles the person.
Mar.7:17] And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
[18] 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;
[19] Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
[20] And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
(21] For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
[22] Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
[23] All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
Good to see a list that everyone can check and see for repentance. Now, what is going to happen is, Jesus is going on a road trip that is about 100 miles roundtrip. Just to see a gentile. Let’s not think that what Jesus says to her is cruel, but out of compassion he goes there.
Mar.7:24] 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.
[25] For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:
[26] The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
[27] 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.
[28] And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.
[29] And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
[30] And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
She fell at his feet, and worshipped. She believed, and with great faith, and Jesus didn’t need to go to her house. He healed her daughter without breaking the law of the Jews. And simply spoke, and she was healed. Now, 50 miles back to where he began.
Mar.7:31] 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.
[32] 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.
[33] And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
Took him aside, from the unbelievers. He never heals when there are unbelievers around. Ears to hear, and he can open the mouth also. This we will cover in chapter 13.
Mar.7:34] And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
[35] And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
Now this man can be used for Gods works. And I’m sure he was used for many good works. Can we be used for Gods works? can we plant seeds (truths) for the Lord?
Mar.7:36] 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;
[37] And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
He can open ears to hear his word and open the mouth to preach the gospels to the world. Praise the Lord. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word. Bless all that love you and we ask that you send us out to do your works in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible