July 8, 2025
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Reading along with us in 1 Samuel and 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
Pretty cool that we would read this chapter right after 1 Samuel 14 where Saul’s legalistic approach to leadership drives his men to eat meat before the blood is drained out properly and then here in Mark 7 Jesus explains how it is not what goes in a man’s mouth that defiles but rather what comes out. Jesus is showing us that our heart is what matters to God. Often what comes out of our mouths is indicative of our hearts and the idea that they will know us by our fruits.
It is interesting to me all the different ways Jesus chooses to heal people. In this chapter it is one of the stranger things with the spitting and fingers in an ear. I know God leaves nothing to chance and does everything for a reason so I am sure when He chooses these different ways to heal they are significant and have purpose. Is it ever explained anywhere why?
Not in scripture that I am aware of…
How I despise the law of man. My life as a child. Religion!! Do this. Don’t do this. Never was I good enough. Nuns constantly putting down. Never did they look at the heart. But what rules were being obeyed. As a kid I wanted to scream. But instead I rebelled. Used to sneak off into church and just stare at the 13 stations of the cross. That is what I wanted!!!! Why would God!!! For me!!!! With tears I would stare knowing I was not good enough. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. I will not look back. Physically or spiritually. Will not let sin or anyone entangle me. Going through life with overwhelming Joy. Anything else is waste of my thoughts.
How hard it is for people who are oriented to what is external and seen, to understand that it is what is in the heart that matters. And it amazes me, for people oriented to the law, that they set a high standard on one thing, but then justify and rationalize something else. Jesus comes to show that it is what is in the heart that matters and what food and how we eat doesn’t matter. It is also interesting to see that Jesus didn’t always make it easy for people. But for those who continued to pursue, they got what they needed. And it is interesting to see Jesus ministering in places outside of Israel and sharing His message and miracles there. The different ways He heals can’t about the need He has to accomplish the healing, but it could be about what the person needs to understand what has taken place.
Mark 7
Mark 7
It’s not what goes into a person that degrades him, it is what comes out of a person. For the words and actions of a person directly correlates to what is in his heart. That is, whether he be self-centered or other-centered. And words are meaningless if they are not backed up by action.
Mark 7
”When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”“
Mark 7:14-16 NKJV
This is an interesting chapter, starting highlighting the legalism that benefits no one. Then it relays these life-altering healings that have dramatic spiritual impact. A non-Jew demonstrates faith and a demon is cast out from her daughter! Then a deaf and dumb man is completely healed.
If legalism could save us, God would have left us under the law.
”And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”“
Mark 7:37 NKJV
Mark 7