Mark 第 7
KJV — King James Version · 37 節
Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.
Spiritual Insight
The religious leaders traveled all the way from Jerusalem just to investigate Jesus. When people feel threatened by something new, they'll go out of their way to find fault.
And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
Spiritual Insight
They caught the disciples eating with unwashed hands — not a moral failure, just a ritual one. It's easier to criticize external behavior than to examine the heart.
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
Spiritual Insight
The Pharisees had built an entire system of hand-washing rules around a simple command. Tradition isn't wrong until it becomes more important than the truth it was meant to protect.
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.
Spiritual Insight
Cups, pots, bronze vessels, even dining tables — everything had to be washed according to tradition. The weight of human rules can crush the spirit of God's law.
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?
Spiritual Insight
Their question was really an accusation dressed up as curiosity. Why don't your disciples follow our traditions? Sometimes the most polite questions carry the sharpest blades.
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.
Spiritual Insight
Jesus quoted Isaiah right back at them: these people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. God has always cared more about sincerity than performance.
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Spiritual Insight
Their worship was empty because they'd replaced God's words with human rules. You can be very religious and completely miss God at the same time.
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.
Spiritual Insight
You've let go of God's commands and are holding on to human traditions instead. It happens so gradually that most people don't even notice the exchange.
And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Spiritual Insight
Jesus said it plainly — you've found clever ways to set aside God's commands to keep your own rules. Religion without love becomes a tool for control.
For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
Spiritual Insight
Moses commanded: honor your father and mother. This was foundational — family care was non-negotiable in God's eyes. Some things aren't meant to be renegotiated.
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.
Spiritual Insight
But you say: if someone declares their money as Corban — a gift to God — then they don't have to help their parents. A loophole that turns piety into selfishness.
And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
Spiritual Insight
Your tradition actually prevents people from caring for their aging parents. When religion hurts the vulnerable, something has gone terribly wrong.
Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Spiritual Insight
You nullify God's word by your tradition — and you do many similar things. Jesus wasn't just addressing one issue; He was exposing a pattern.
And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
Spiritual Insight
Jesus called the crowd closer and said: listen and understand. He wanted ordinary people to grasp this truth, not just the scholars. God's wisdom is for everyone.
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.
Spiritual Insight
Nothing outside can defile you — only what comes from inside. It was a revolutionary statement that overturned centuries of dietary and ritual law. The problem has always been the heart.
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
Spiritual Insight
If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear. Jesus keeps repeating this invitation because He really wants us to get it. The door to understanding is always open.
And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
Spiritual Insight
Later, in private, the disciples asked for an explanation. There's no shame in not understanding — the shame is in not asking. Private honesty leads to deeper insight.
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;
Spiritual Insight
Are you still so dull? Jesus' frustration was real. He'd been with them for a while now, and some lessons just weren't sinking in. Spiritual growth isn't always linear.
Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
Spiritual Insight
Food enters the stomach, not the heart, and then passes out of the body. Mark adds: in saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean. What a quiet revolution in one sentence.
And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
Spiritual Insight
What comes out of a person is what defiles them. The real pollution isn't environmental — it's internal. We carry the source of our trouble inside us.
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Spiritual Insight
From within, from the human heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder. The heart is capable of incredible beauty and terrible darkness. That's why it needs a Savior.
Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
Spiritual Insight
Greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, folly — quite a list. Jesus wasn't exaggerating; He was being honest about what lives inside every one of us.
All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
Spiritual Insight
All these evils come from inside and defile a person. Jesus diagnosed the human condition perfectly. The cure isn't more rules — it's a new heart.
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.
Spiritual Insight
Jesus traveled to Tyre and Sidon — Gentile territory — and tried to stay hidden. But even there, His reputation had preceded Him. You can't hide genuine goodness.
For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:
Spiritual Insight
A mother whose daughter was demon-possessed heard about Jesus and came immediately. Love for her child overcame every social barrier — ethnicity, gender, religion.
The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
Spiritual Insight
She was a Greek, a Syrophoenician — an outsider twice over. Yet she came boldly to Jesus, because desperation and love don't care about categories.
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.
Spiritual Insight
Jesus' response sounds harsh: let the children be fed first, for it isn't right to throw their bread to dogs. He was testing her faith, not rejecting her. Sometimes God's hard words are invitations to deeper trust.
And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.
Spiritual Insight
Her response was brilliant: yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs. She didn't argue — she believed. Even the crumbs of God's grace are enough.
And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
Spiritual Insight
Because of this answer, Jesus told her to go — her daughter was healed. Faith that persists through apparent rejection is the faith that moves heaven.
And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
Spiritual Insight
She went home and found her daughter lying in bed, the demon gone. Distance didn't limit Jesus' power. He doesn't need to be physically present to bring deliverance.
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.
Spiritual Insight
Jesus traveled through Sidon and Decapolis back to the Sea of Galilee. His itinerary made no geographic sense — He was following the Father's leading, not a map.
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.
Spiritual Insight
People brought a deaf man with a speech impediment and begged Jesus to touch him. Friends still bring friends to Jesus — sometimes that's the most loving thing we can do.
And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
Spiritual Insight
Jesus took him aside privately, put fingers in his ears, and touched his tongue with saliva. The healing was personal and physical — Jesus entered this man's world of silence and spoke his language.
And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
Spiritual Insight
He looked up to heaven, sighed deeply, and said: Ephphatha — be opened. That sigh carried the weight of all human suffering. Jesus doesn't heal mechanically; He heals with empathy.
And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
Spiritual Insight
Immediately his ears opened, his tongue was loosened, and he spoke clearly. What a moment — the first sounds he'd ever heard clearly were Jesus' voice. What a beautiful first word to hear.
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;
Spiritual Insight
Jesus told them not to tell anyone, but the more He insisted, the more they spread the news. When something this wonderful happens, silence is impossible.
And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
Spiritual Insight
They were astonished beyond measure: He has done all things well. Even the deaf hear and the mute speak. It's a summary of creation language — Jesus was making all things new.