Mark Chapter 7

New Testament Gospel 37 Verses

What is Mark 7 about?

The fast-paced Gospel of action — Jesus as the Suffering Servant who came not to be served but to give his life as a ransom. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1And there are gathered together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem,
2and had seen that some of his disciples ate their bread with defiled, that is, unwashen, hands.
3(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands diligently, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders;
4and [when they come] from the market-place, except they bathe themselves, they eat not; and many other things there are, which they have received to hold, washings of cups, and pots, and brasen vessels.)
5And the Pharisees and the scribes ask him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with defiled hands?
6And he said unto them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, But their heart is far from me.
7But in vain do they worship me, Teaching [as their] doctrines the precepts of men.
8Ye leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men.
9And he said unto them, Full well do ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your tradition.
10For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother; and, He that speaketh evil of father or mother, let him die the death:
11but ye say, If a man shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is Corban, that is to say, Given [to God];
12ye no longer suffer him to do aught for his father or his mother;
13making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things ye do.
14And he called to him the multitude again, and said unto them, Hear me all of you, and understand:
15there is nothing from without the man, that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man.
16[If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear.]
17And when he was entered into the house from the multitude, his disciples asked of him the parable.
18And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Perceive ye not, that whatsoever from without goeth into the man, [it] cannot defile him;
19because it goeth not into his heart, but into his belly, and goeth out into the draught? [This he said], making all meats clean.
20And he said, That which proceedeth out of the man, that defileth the man.
21For from within, out of the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries,
22covetings, wickednesses, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, railing, pride, foolishness:
23all these evil things proceed from within, and defile the man.
24And from thence he arose, and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered into a house, and would have no man know it; and he could not be hid.
25But straightway a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his feet.
26Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. And she besought him that he would cast forth the demon out of her daughter.
27And he said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children`s bread and cast it to the dogs.
28But she answered and saith unto him, Yea, Lord; even the dogs under the table eat of the children`s crumbs.
29And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the demon is gone out of thy daughter.
30And she went away unto her house, and found the child laid upon the bed, and the demon gone out.
31And again he went out from the borders of Tyre, and came through Sidon unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the borders of Decapolis.
32And 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.
33And he took him aside from the multitude privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue;
34and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
35And his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
36And 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.
37And they were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well; he maketh even the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Then came together unto him the Pharisees, etc..] Having heard of his miracles, and that he was come into the land of Gennesaret; they consulted with one another, and came together to Jesus, to watch and observe what was said and done by him, and take what advantage they could against him. These were not of that country, but were of Jerusalem, as were their companions the Scribes: and certain of the Scribes, which were of Jerusalem; for the fame of Christ had reached the metropolis of the nation; and these men being the more artful and cunning of the whole sect, either came of themselves, or were sent by the…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“FOUR THOUSAND MIRACULOUSLY FED--A SIGN FROM HEAVEN SOUGHT AND REFUSED--THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES--A BLIND MAN AT BETHSAIDA RESTORED TO SIGHT. ( = Mat. 15:32-16:12). (Mark 8:1-26) In those days the multitude being very great, &c.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 15:1-20. Mark 7:1 Came from Jerusalem - Probably to observe his conduct, and to find matter of accusation against him. Mark 7:2 Defiled hands - The hands were considered defiled or polluted unless they were washed previous to every meal. Mark 7:3 Except they wash their hands oft - Our word “oft” means frequently, often. The Greek wore translated oft has been rendered various ways. Some have said that it means “up to the wrist” - unless they wash their hands up to the wrist. Others have said up to the elbow.” There is evidence that the Pharisees had some such…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“Coming from Jerusalem - Probably on purpose to find occasion against him. Mat 15:1. Mark 7:4”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“7:1-23 This account has no direct connection with what precedes it. It assumes only a context such as “Once in the ministry of Jesus.” After setting the scene (7:1-4), Mark introduces the Pharisees’ question (7:5), followed by Jesus’ response (7:6-23). The first part of Jesus’ response (7:6-13) centers around two Old Testament passages and a twofold attack on the Pharisees’ traditions (7:6-8, 9-13). In the second part (7:14-23), Jesus teaches about what does and does not truly defile. 7:1 Readers already know that the Pharisees and teachers of religious law were hostile to Jesus (see 2:16, 24; 3:6, 22).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“The Pharisees: Mar 3:22; Mat 15:1; Luk 5:17, Luk 11:53, Luk 11:54 Mark 7:2”
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