Knowing Jesus through Mark 7

*In order to follow these notes, you'll need to be reading the chapter along with it. I pray that after studying this chapter, you may know Jesus better and in a deeper way than before. Amen.
Verses 1-23
- This section is a back and forth exchange involving Jesus, his disciples and some local Pharisees and scribes
- At issue here specifically is ritual cleanliness; but the broader issue is the continued conflict between Jesus and the religious authorities
- As with any conflicts there is the "presenting issue" as psychologists would say; here it is the disciples eating with unwashed hands (vs 2).
Jesus quickly identifies the deeper issue shrewdly by quoting Isaiah, thereby demonstrating his own understanding and intrepretation of the prophet, in front of these guardians of the Hebrew scriptures. "You leave the commandment of God and hold fast to the tradition of men" (vs 8).
- Jesus goes on to teach that the commandments of God, the law, exists to change our hearts and to purify that which "comes out" of us.
- Jesus gives examples (vs 21-22) of the evil things that come out of people
- There is often confusion on what some of these things are, a few words about a few of these -
Coveting - comes from a Latin word that means "to desire another's possessions."
Fornication - voluntary sexual relations outside the covenant of marriage
Foolishness - lacking in sense, judgement or discretion
Licentiousness - means lacking personal discipline usually in the area of sexual relationships
Deceit - the concealing or distortion of the truth for the purpose of misleading

- Jesus sums up this conversation by saying in verse 23, "all these evil things come from within, and they defile a man."

Verses 24-30
- Jesus tries to continue to operate somewhat in secret (vs 24) as he enters a house in Tyre or Sidon
- He is in Greek territory and Tom Wright suggests that perhaps Jesus is intentionally trying to "lay low" for a while after making the controversial and confrontational interactions with the religious folks. Perhaps this Greek area of Tyre/Sidon a ways up the coast from Galilee, was a place to go under the radar for a bit?
- It's unclear from the text but it seems that Jesus was trying to hide but then makes his way out into the community where he encounters a woman
- Mark makes sure to note that the woman he encounters is Greek, not Jewish
- Jews often thought of Gentiles as "dogs" and Gentiles had unkind names for Jews as well, Tom Wright notes.
- Her response to Jesus' questioning and arguably, his slight, was to say that even dogs (Gentiles) eat crumbs under the tables of the children (Jews, Israelites) - is this a way of saying that even the non-Jew is "hungry" for healing
- Whatever this odd exchange meant, Jesus responds redemptively and removes the demon from daughter of the woman.
- It seems Jesus' encounter with this woman is outside in the open because after their visit, she goes home and finds her possessed daughter well (vs 30).
Verses 31-37
- Jesus goes to the region of the Decapolis - ten Greek cities evangelized by the "man of the tombs" described in chapter 5 verse 20
- Jesus, in private, heals a man who is deaf and dumb (recalling and fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah chapter 35: 5-6)
- Again, Jesus "charges" them not to tell about it but "the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it (vs 36).

*this last account in Mark 7 reminds me of the 6th verse of the great Charles Wesley hymn, "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing."
"Hear him ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb, your loosened tongues employ; ye blind, behold your Savior come, and leap, ye lame, for joy.