‏ Mark 7

* The traditions of the elders. (1-13) What defiles the man.

(14-23) The woman of Canaan's daughter cured. (24-30) Christ

restores a man to hearing and speech. (31-37)

1-13 One great design of Christ's coming was, to set aside the

ceremonial law; and to make way for this, he rejects the

ceremonies men added to the law of God's making. Those clean

hands and that pure heart which Christ bestows on his disciples,

and requires of them, are very different from the outward and

superstitious forms of Pharisees of every age. Jesus reproves

them for rejecting the commandment of God. It is clear that it

is the duty of children, if their parents are poor, to relieve

them as far as they are able; and if children deserve to die

that curse their parents, much more those that starve them. But

if a man conformed to the traditions of the Pharisees, they

found a device to free him from the claim of this duty. 14-23 Our wicked thoughts and affections, words and actions,

defile us, and these only. As a corrupt fountain sends forth

corrupt streams, so does a corrupt heart send forth corrupt

reasonings, corrupt appetites and passions, and all the wicked

words and actions that come from them. A spiritual understanding

of the law of God, and a sense of the evil of sin, will cause a

man to seek for the grace of the Holy Spirit, to keep down the

evil thoughts and affections that work within. 24-30 Christ never put any from him that fell at his feet,

which a poor trembling soul may do. As she was a good woman, so

a good mother. This sent her to Christ. His saying, Let the

children first be filled, shows that there was mercy for the

Gentiles, and not far off. She spoke, not as making light of the

mercy, but magnifying the abundance of miraculous cures among

the Jews, in comparison with which a single cure was but as a

crumb. Thus, while proud Pharisees are left by the blessed

Saviour, he manifests his compassion to poor humbled sinners,

who look to him for children's bread. He still goes about to

seek and save the lost. 31-37 Here is a cure of one that was deaf and dumb. Those who

brought this poor man to Christ, besought him to observe the

case, and put forth his power. Our Lord used more outward

actions in the doing of this cure than usual. These were only

signs of Christ's power to cure the man, to encourage his faith,

and theirs that brought him. Though we find great variety in the

cases and manner of relief of those who applied to Christ, yet

all obtained the relief they sought. Thus it still is in the

great concerns of our souls.