Mark 7:32-35

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 7:32

Verse 32 Mark 7:32.And they bring to him one who was deaf. The reason why they implored him to lay his hands upon him may be learned from passages which we have already considered; for the laying on of hands was a solemn symbol of consecration, (423) and by means of it, the gifts of the Holy Spirit were also bestowed. And there is no doubt that this ceremony was frequently used by Christ; so that those men requested nothing but what they knew that he had been formerly in the habit of doing. On... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 7:33

Verse 33 33.And when he had taken him aside from the multitude. This was done, partly to afford to those who were ignorant, and not yet sufficiently qualified for becoming witnesses, an opportunity of perceiving at a distance the glory of his Divine nature, and partly that he might have a better opportunity of pouring out earnest prayer. When he looked up to heaven and sighed, it was an expression of strong feeling; and this enables us to perceive the vehemence of his love towards men, for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 7:31-37

The deaf hears; the dumb speaks. In this incident is much of the dramatic. It could not well be otherwise. Our Lord's teaching was usually by speech, but this was a case in which oral language was needless and useless. Christ accordingly employed the language of gesture and action. He thus adapted himself and his ministry to the necessities of this poor man, who was doubly afflicted with privation of hearing and of speech. The condition of the sufferer and the conduct of the Healer are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 7:31-37

"Ephphatha." A rest, then a fresh journey ("again"). How long the interval we cannot determine. To free him from embarrassment, perhaps danger, and allow time for spiritual meditation. "Tyre and Sidon." The best manuscripts have " through Sidon," which was north of Tyre. "Decapolis:" ten cities, east and southeast of Sea of Galilee; named by the Romans b.c. 65. A favourite scene of our Lord's labours (cf. Matthew 4:25 ). In Matthew 15:29-31 a multitude of cases is mentioned. Here... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 7:31-37

The deaf and dumb. I. THE GREAT PRIVATION OF SUCH A SUFFERER . Deafness cuts the person off from society more than blindness. He is not blessed by that music which expresses the soul of things. He cannot hear that sound of the human voice, which is the most delicious of all music. One sense needs the sisterly help of another. Sight tantalizes without hearing. To be full of thought and feeling, yet not to be able to speak,—than this sense of restraint upon the noblest part of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 7:31-37

The healing of the deaf and dumb man. Another case of healing, the record of which is peculiar to St. Mark, throws into prominence both the pitifulness of men and the power of the Lord. It is that of one unable to speak for himself, and unable to hear of the many wonderful works which are being done around. "They bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to lay his hand upon him." Ah, they have gained faith in the power of that hand. Jesus... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 7:31-37

A miracle of restoration. I. THE DEAF MUTE HEALED . 1 . A difference of reading. According to the common text we learn that our Lord, "departing from the coasts [borders] of Tyre and Sidon, came unto the Sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts [borders] of Decapolis; but according to the best critical authorities "through Sidon" must be substituted for "and Sidon;" and then the sentence reads as it stands in the Revised Version: "Again he went out from the borders... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 7:32

They bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech ( πωφὸν καὶ μογιλάλον ) . The radical sense of κωφός (from κόπτω ) is "blunt" or "dull;" and so it is used to represent both deafness and dumbness. But in St. Mark it means deafness as distinguished from dumbness. This patient, however, was not ἄλαλος absolutely, but μογιλάλος , i.e. he spoke with difficulty. Long-continued deafness is apt to produce imperfect utterance. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 7:32

Deaf and dumb. Christ's acts of healing were very often performed while He was passing from place to place. This occurred on his way from the borders of Tyre and Sidon to the eastern side of the Lake of Galilee. His life was like a river, which not only, when it reaches the sea, bears mighty fleets on its bosom, but carries blessings all along its course through secluded pastures and quiet corn-fields. The case of this man was one of physical infirmity and not of demoniac possession. He... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Mark 7:33

And he took him aside from the multitude privately . This was done, no doubt, to fix the attention of the afflicted man upon himself, and upon the fact that he was about to act upon his ears and his tongue. And he put ( ἔβαλε )—literally, cast or thrust— his fingers into his ears. The action was very significant. It was as though he said, "I am about to open a passage for hearing through these ears." And he spat, and touched his tongue; that is, he touched his tongue with... read more

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