Commentary in Simple English on the Gospel that Mark wrote

Verses 1 - 23 God's Law and Jewish Customs

(See Matthew 15: 1-20.)

Some of the Christians in Rome were not Jews. However, many of the Christians in Rome were Jews who would need to know what Jesus had said about Jewish customs. [7.1] (Romans 14: 14-18 shows how Paul had dealt with this matter.) We met Jewish teachers from Jerusalem before (3: 22). They watched Jesus and no doubt they had more power than the teachers in Galilee had (verse 1). Some details of the Jewish customs in this passage are interesting but not important to us. However, there are very useful things which Jesus teaches. [7.2]. A big gap had opened up between what God had said in the Old Testament Law and the customs of the Jews. This has happened in other religions. In verse 8, Jesus shows that when this happens, the customs of men seem to carry more weight than God's Law.

There is nothing in the reply of Jesus about the complaint against His followers in verse 2. He begins in verses 6 and 7 with words from Isaiah 29: 12. [7.3] When we worship God, our hearts must be right. If they are not, then our words will not please Him. So Jesus tells the crowd (verses 14,15) this great truth. What we eat or touch cannot make us 'unclean'. Our hearts must be good: then good things will come out of them. If our hearts are bad what is evil will come out of them. We need a new, clean heart. God gives this to His people by His Spirit's work in them. He does this when they put their faith in Jesus. (Psalm 51: 10).

In verse 17 Jesus leaves the crowd. He goes into a house with His followers. (See 10: 10 and 4: 10.) At such times, Jesus sets out His teaching more plainly for His followers. The end of verse 19 may be a remark slipped in by Peter. Later on Peter had to learn this lesson again (Acts 10: 28; 11: 9).

We must root evil things out of our hearts. Jesus lists these evil things in verses 20-21 (James 1: 21). But it is no good if we do this unless we plant good things in their place. (See Philippians 4: 8.) Paul tells us in Galatians 5: 22 and 23 what the fruit of the Spirit of God is.

Unless there is first a bud and a flower, there is no fruit. Pure, holy thoughts are the flowers that will produce the fruit of good works.

(See Matthew 15: 21 to 28.)

The Jewish Christians in Rome wanted to know what Jesus had said about Jewish customs. Then those who were not Jews would be pleased to hear how Jesus had dealt with people who were not Jews.

Tyre and Sidon were cities with very old harbours from which the Phoenician sailors had sailed the Mediterranean Sea. They had reached part of England. Perhaps they had sailed all round Africa. These cities play a large part in the Old Testament. This area which is north of Palestine is now part of Lebanon. Jesus clearly wanted a quiet time away from the crowds so that He could teach His followers.

Perhaps they were eating a meal when the woman from Lebanon came in (verse 25). She shouted to Jesus for help for her daughter who had an unclean spirit. How we need to cry for help to Jesus for our young people today. So many of them are in the grip of drugs and drink and other evil things.

Jesus tests the woman's faith when He speaks to her (verse 27). The 'children' here are the Jews. The teaching of Jesus is the children's food. Jesus says to her that the 'children’s food' is for God's children, the Jews, first. The first part of the chapter shows how little the Jews wanted this 'children's food'. Perhaps it is time to feed other people with God's Word! Jesus calls these other people 'little dogs' - puppies, pet dogs, 'doggies'.

There were wild dogs, which lived in the city streets. They were dirty. They ate rubbish. This is not the word that Jesus uses here

Faith is a grace which will work and fight. The woman replies (verse 28) that the little dogs do not have to wait for their food until the meal is over. The children dropped pieces of food when mother was not looking. So the woman cannot see why people like her should have to wait until the Jews had had their share of God's Word.

I think the followers of Jesus were all ready to tell her "That is no way to talk to our Teacher. You are only a woman, and not even a Jew!". Jesus was too quick for them. Matthew tells us He praised her for her faith. So she got more than she had asked Jesus for. Her daughter was healed. Jesus also praised her faith in Him (verses 29 and 30).

No case is too difficult for Jesus: we may pray to Him for those we love. There is plenty in the Good News for everyone.

There is, I believe, no part of Mark's Gospel where it is clearer that someone who saw what happened tells us about it.

We now know that few deaf people are really unable to speak. There is usually nothing wrong with their mouth or throat.

Babies learn how to speak when they watch their mothers' mouths as they talk. They hear the sound mother makes. Then they make it in the same way. It is difficult for a deaf baby, which cannot hear the sounds mother makes. A very deaf child cannot even hear the sounds it makes itself. A blind baby will also have difficulty. It will not be able to see its mother's mouth.

Christian love can be shown if we give special attention to young children with these problems. Deaf people can learn to lip-read.

Mark tells us that Jesus went to 'the Decapolis', the Ten Cities. These were Greek cities south and east of the Lake of Galilee. There were not only Greeks but Jews and others who lived there (verse 31).

The friends of the deaf man brought him to Jesus. They wanted Jesus to place His hands on him in blessing (verse 32). His friends probably did not expect him to be healed. (See verse 37.) He was able to speak, but his speech was not clear.

Jesus could have simply healed the man, no doubt, but He wants the man to understand and have faith. So first He takes the man away from the crowd. Then He begins to act. He puts His fingers in his ears to 'act' opening them. He spits to show that He is going to get rid of the difficulty in speaking and He touches the man’s tongue. He 'acts' prayer when He looks up to God in heaven. The man could see when Jesus drew that deep breath (sighed). Those who were with Jesus remembered the exact word that He spoke. 'Effatha' was a word that the man could lip-read. By now, no doubt, he was watching every movement that Jesus made (verse 34). Jesus said: 'Be opened' and the deaf ears were opened and the man began to speak correctly. (See Isaiah 35: 5.) [7.4]