Mark 7
Geneva Study Bible
Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.
Then {1} came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.

(1) None resist the wisdom of God more than they that should be wisest, and they resist because of their zeal for their own traditions: for men please themselves in superstition more than in any other thing, that is to say, in a worship of God fondly devised by themselves.

And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
And when they saw some of his disciples {a} eat bread with {b} defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

(a) Literally, eat bread: an idiom which the Hebrews use, understanding bread to represent every type of food.

(b) For the Pharisees would not eat their food with unwashed hands, because they thought that their hands were defiled with the common handling of things; Mt 15:11,12.

For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, {c} holding the tradition of the elders.

(c) Observing diligently.

And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
And when they come from the {d} market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and {e} pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

(d) That is to say, after coming from civil and worldly affairs they do not eat unless they first wash themselves.

(e) By these words are understood all types of vessels which we use daily.

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why {f} walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

(f) Why live they not? This is a Hebrew idiom: for among them the way is taken for lifestyle.

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.
{2} 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.

(2) Hypocrisy is always joined with superstition.

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
{3} Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

(3) The more earnest the superstitious are, the more mad they are in promising themselves God's favour because of their deeds.

For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
{4} For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

(4) The deeds of superstitious men not only do not fulfil the law of God (as they blasphemously persuaded themselves) but these deeds utterly take away God's law.

And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
{5} And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

(5) True religion, which is completely contrary to superstition, consists in spiritual worship: and all enemies of true religion, although they seem to have taken deep root, will be plucked up.

For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him {g} die the death:

(g) Without hope of pardon, he will be put to death.

But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;
And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;
Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, {h} purging all meats?

(h) For that which goes into the draught purges all meats.

And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
Thefts, {i} covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an {k} evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

(i) All types of craftiness by which men profit themselves at other men's losses.

(k) Corrupted malice.

All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.
{6} And from thence he arose, and went into the {l} borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.

(6) That which the proud reject when it is offered to them, that same thing the modest and humble sinners as it were voraciously consume.

(l) Into the uttermost coasts of Palestine, which were next to Tyre and Sidon.

For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:
For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:
The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
The woman was a {m} Greek, a {n} Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.

(m) By nationality, profane.

(n) A neighbour of or near to Damascus.

But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.
But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the {o} dogs.

(o) Dog here signifies a little dog, and he uses this term that he may seem to speak more reproachfully.

And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.
And she answered and said unto him, {p} Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.

(p) As if she said, It is as thou sayest Lord, for it is enough for the dogs if they can but gather up the crumbs that are under the table; therefore I crave the crumbs and not the children's bread.

And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
{7} And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of {q} Decapolis.

(7) As the Father created us to this life in the beginning in his only son, so does he also in him alone renew us into everlasting life.

(q) It was a little country, and it was so called because it consisted of ten cities under the jurisdiction of four surrounding governments; Pliny, book 3, chap. 8.

And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.
And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.
And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;
And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;
And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599]

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