Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Mark 7:1-23
VII.(1-23) Then came together unto him.—See Notes on Matthew 15:1-20. read more
VII.(1-23) Then came together unto him.—See Notes on Matthew 15:1-20. read more
(9) Full well ye reject.—The adverb is peculiar to St. Mark, and has in it the ring of a scathing and indignant irony. The word “reject” is hardly formal enough, the Greek conveying the idea, as in Galatians 3:15, Hebrews 7:18, of “rescinding” or “repealing.” This the Pharisees practically did when they added traditions which pretended to be interpretations, but were in reality at variance with it. read more
Mark 7:31 Any one associated with Lord Aberdeen might always rest assured that he was safe in his hands. When our law did not allow prisoners the benefit of counsel, it was commonly said that the judge was counsel for the prisoner. Lord Aberdeen was always counsel for the absent. Doubtless he had pondered much upon the law, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. It had entered profoundly into his being, and formed a large part of it. Gladstone, quoted in Morley's Life, II. pp. 639, 640).... read more
6CHAPTER 6:53-7:13 (Mark 6:53-56 - Mark 7:1-13)UNWASHEN HANDS"And when they had crossed over, they came to the land unto Gennesaret, and moored to the shore. . . . Making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things ye do." Mark 6:53-56 - Mark 7:1-13 (R.V.)THERE is a condition of mind which readily accepts the temporal blessings of religion, and yet neglects, and perhaps despises, the spiritual truths which they ratify and seal. When Jesus landed on... read more
Chapter 7 1. The Opposition of the Pharisees. (Mark 7:1-23 .Matthew 15:1-20; Matthew 15:1-20 ) 2. Grace shown to the Syrophenician Woman. (Mark 7:24-30 . Matthew 15:21-28 ) 3. The healing of the deaf man. (Mark 7:31-37 . Matthew 15:29-31 .) 1. The Opposition of the Pharisees. Mark 7:1-23 This paragraph is of much importance. The scope of the analysis forbids a full annotation, but we refer the reader to the exposition of Matthew 15:1-20 , the parallel passage. The Servant in His divine... read more
7:9 {5} And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.(5) True religion, which is completely contrary to superstition, consists in spiritual worship: and all enemies of true religion, although they seem to have taken deep root, will be plucked up. read more
EXPANSION AND OPPOSITION These chapters deal with: Jesus’ Visit to Nazareth (Mark 6:1-6 ); · The Commission of the Twelve (Mark 6:7-13 ); · The Martyrdom of John the Baptist (Mark 6:14-29 ); · The Report of the Twelve (Mark 6:30-31 ); · The Feeding of the Five Thousand (Mark 6:32-44 ); · Jesus Walking on the Sea (Mark 6:45-52 ); · Healing at Gennesaret (Mark 6:53-56 ); · Opposition of the Pharisees (Mark 7:1-23 ); · Dealing with the Syrophoenician Woman (Mark 7:24-30 ) and Recovering the... read more
The Rebukes of Christ [An Analysis] Mark 7:0 This paragraph shows Christ's method of rebuking. The paragraph which immediately succeeds shows Christ's method of instructing. The paragraphs may be taken together in a discourse upon the outward and inward relations of Jesus Christ: his relations to the Pharisees and the general body of the people, and his more secret and spiritual relations to his disciples. In the case of the Pharisees, there was (1) something right; (2) something incomplete;... read more
CONTENTS. The Pharisees assemble to contend with CHRIST. JESUS reproves them. He heals a poor child, and cures one that was deaf and dumb. 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. (3) For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. (4) And when... read more
John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 7:1-37
Eating with Unwashed Hands. the Syrophoenician Woman. Healing of a Deaf Man1-23. Eating with unwashed hands (Matthew 15:1). See on Mt.3, 4. A note added by St. Mark for the benefit of his Gentile readers, who would not be familiar with Jewish customs. St. Matthew’s Jewish readers needed no such explanation. 3. Wash their hands oft] lit. ’wash their hands with the fist.’ The Jewish custom was to wash the hands up to the wrist, and that is probably the meaning here, although it is hard to extract... read more