July 12, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Mark? Here’s today’s reading:
Mark 7 (NIV)
That Which Defiles
1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders…..Continue Reading
I am reflecting on Jesus’ comparison of God’s command vs Human tradition in light of “Christian nationalism” in America..specifically on the effort of keeping America a Christian nation and preserving Christian values vs how we reach out to the lost..
People find comfort in traditions and also there is a sense of accomplishment when the task is done. I can see it in my own devotional time no matter how fervent my prayers or sweet the time. What a great reminder from Jesus that traditions don’t trump true worship.
I love the faith and humble remark from this woman who repeatedly asked Jesus to heal her daughter said saying, ~I’m happy with the crumbs Jesus.
Oh the love of God- the foreshadowing of allowing gentiles into the fold, the answer to prayer, the gift of healing, and of hope. It reminds me of the traditional reading in the Seder when they would recount what God had done. After each account they would say, that He didn’t have to do anything more, but He did. In this, I see how loving and how relational God is.
What good are all the right behaviors with the wrong motivation. Blindly following law with no real desire to see God glorified in everything we do is as bad as just doing evil. We can not say we are Christians and not show love to others. The Pharisees were using the law in ways that actually prevented them from seeing who Jesus really was. How blind we can be at times.
The Gentile woman He helped knew her place and Jesus recognized her humble spirit. Pride always gets in the way and what we see in this example is that a faithful, humble heart won’t ever lead us astray or get us caught up in prideful behavior even when we think we are doing what we are supposed to do, God always knows our heart!
Mark 7
It’s so moving to read about Jesus’ compassion healing the sick and demon possessed. However, I’m always confused about the story about the dogs eating the crumbs and Jesus’ response. Can anyone explain that to me?
I learned that Jesus’ ministry was to the Jewish nation and she was a Gentile woman. The explanation in my Bible says that His statement was not an insult but rather a test of her faith.
That is certainly the way Jesus communicates it here. He came to the Jews first and the Gentiles second. It is another example of Jesus not making something easy and yet challenging someone to think and believe deeper: to continue to press in and accept the challenge. She seems to understand Jesus better than the disciples…and for her pressing in, her daughter is healed.
Mark 1-7 completed.
Mark 7 Jesus is trying to explain clean and unclean to the Pharisees because they are stuck on rituals. He explains it’s not what goes into a man but what comes out that is unclean, like evil thoughts, greed, deceit, it what comes from a man’s heart.
Jesus heals another little girl this one with a demon and he didn’t have to be present to do it. His power goes way beyond man’s understanding.
What an important lesson for Jesus to teach particularly to a group of people that were far more concerned with how they looked on the outside than how they did on the inside. It is a sad commentary on anyone that our lips honor God but our hearts are far from him. Because God cares about our hearts. And it isn’t it so true that what comes out of our mouths reveals what is in our hearts far more than what goes into our mouths? And it is neat that this made all foods clean as well.
And it is no wonder that the people are amazed at Jesus’ healing. There is nothing that He cannot do, no human condition that cannot be rectified by the Son of God. What troubles and overwhelms us does not trouble or overwhelm Him. It is interesting that Jesus does some interesting things to restore hearing and speech. These details are often not given. So it is hard to say whether physical dynamics like this were not regularly used. Certainly Jesus doesn’t need to but maybe provides this for the one being healed to provide an agency through which they are healed to further confirm it for them.
Mark 7
The Pharisees just don`t get it. They were so wrapped up in their laws and tradition that they couldn`t see with compassion and with true spiritually who was in front of them [Jesus ] and what was in front of them. Like Jesus had said before in chapter 2;27,28. ] ——The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath. Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath]. Jesus quotes Isaiah and says [ This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me]. He is making it clear that what defiles a man comes from within the heart of man and not from without. All the evil that is inside a man. Unless one`s heart is cleansed by the blood of Christ it will remain all the things that Jesus says it will in His list that He gives. [ verses 20–23 ]. In the case of the Greek woman she was so thankful and humble to get even the crumbs. That would be us as gentiles. Thankful that we were grafted in as believers. Jesus rewarded her for her great faith in Him. Then Jesus heals a deaf mute man. It is recorded in detail how He healed the man. Sometimes He does things with His hands, sometimes he tells someone to wash in the river, and sometimes He just speaks and it is done. And so many other ways. He is a God of variety. Perhaps to grow their faith as Pastor said. Just look at the many ways that Jesus has brought us to Christ or perhaps has healed us. They are all different but it does come down to a repentant heart and fully trusting Jesus. May the peace of God be with us as we walk with Him.
We have been reading, but I have not been commenting!
I thought it was an interesting juxtaposition 😀 (I know you like that word, Pastor.) the beginning of the chapter the Pharisees and scribes challenge Jesus about the behavior of His disciples. Why aren’t they holding the legalistic standards of their law? He says to them, “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.”
Then in vs. 25 a Gentile woman comes and exhibits faith by asking Him to remove the demon from her daughter, demonstrating belief and faith of heart.
All along God’s intent was to bring all men to Himself and for the Jews to be a witness to the nations.
Mark 7
Realizing that this book of stories of Jesus is revealing who He is and why He came in a surprisingly bold and direct way. The quotes, the miracles…
I have a renewed appreciation for Mark’s gospel
It’s not the food a person eats that defiles them, it’s the condition of their heart. And if our heart is hard, we can soften it by drawing closer to God in prayer and worship, the reading and studying of his Word, and connecting with the body of believers.