In Mark 7 we see some great debate between Jesus and the Pharisees. These religious leaders had seen the disciples of Jesus eat food without washing their hands (thus eating "unclean"). The Lord let these guys have it, pointing out hypocrisy in their own practices.
They were trying to expose Jesus as a fraud, but Jesus showed that they were guilty of missing God.
"You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."
He pointed out that these Pharisees would often break God's law to honor mother and father when they allow someone to give what they would normally give to their parents to the church. This was not only breaking a law with a religious excuse, but it was making others under their leadership make the same mistake. Jesus then went on to say that nothing coming into a man's mouth makes him unclean.
"For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body."
He probably didn't say "poop" here, but that's what He was referencing. He also gave a list of what was unclean: "evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly."
The next part of this chapter we see Jesus shifting gears a bit, when a Greek woman asks Him to drive a demon out of her daughter. He basically tells her, "I'm here to help the Jews, not you people." That's not a direct quote. What He said might have been worse:
"First let the children eat all they want, for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."
This might have been sarcasm, but it was surely strong. The Greek apparently reads "little dogs," as in beloved house pets. Nevertheless, He was making a clear distinction between God's people and the gentiles. The woman was apparently not insulted, because she retorted, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." He told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter." That's amazing.
Another funny story happens later in the chapter. A deaf and mute man was brought to him. He took him aside, away from the crowd (which, when you hear what He did, was probably a very good thing).
Jesus put His fingers into the man's ears. Then He spit and touched the man's tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, 'Ephphatha!" (which means, 'Be opened!') At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more He did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."
What a great affirmation to the King of kings. It was an understatment, to be sure; but what did they know of His identity?
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at November 3, 2008 10:28 AM