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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Mark 7:31-37

Our Lord Jesus seldom staid long in a place, for he knew where his work lay, and attended the changes of it. When he had cured the woman of Canaan's daughter, he had done what he had to do in that place, and therefore presently left those parts, and returned to the sea of Galilee, whereabout his usual residence was; yet he did not come directly thither, but fetched a compass through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis, which lay mostly on the other side Jordan; such long walks did our Lord... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Mark 7:31-37

7:31-37 He went away again from the regions of Tyre and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the regions of the Decapolis. They brought to him a man who was deaf and who had an impediment in his speech, and they asked him to lay his hands on him. He took him aside from the crowd all by himself. He thrust his fingers into his ears, and spat, and touched his tongue. Then he looked up into heaven, and sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha!" which means, "Be opened!" And his ears were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 7:33

And he took him aside from the multitude ,.... To shun all appearance of ostentation and vain glory: and put his fingers into his ears ; the finger of his right hand into his left ear, and the finger of his left hand into his right ear: and he spit and touched his tongue ; that is, either he spit upon his tongue, for so the Vulgate Latin renders it, "spitting he touched his tongue"; and the Persic version thus, "he cast his spittle on his tongue"; or rather, he spit on his finger,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Mark 7:33

And he spit, and touched his tongue - This place is exceedingly difficult. There is scarcely an action of our Lord's life but one can see an evident reason for, except this. Various interpretations are given of it - none of them satisfies my mind. The Abbe Giradeau spiritualizes it thus: - He took him aside from the multitude - When Christ saves a sinner, he separates him from all his old evil companions, and from the spirit and maxims of an ungodly world. He put his fingers in his ears... 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

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