THE GOSPEL OF MARK

Lesson 5

MORE CONFLICT, AND MORE MIRACLES AMONG JEWS AND GENTILES

(Mark 7:1 - 8:26)
I. Another Series Of CONFLICTS With the Jewish Leaders
A. CONFLICT about WASHINGS

(Mark 7:1-23)

(Mark 7:1-8)

1. The opponents were Scribes and Pharisees from JERUSALEM

2. The disciples of Jesus were criticized for failure to observe ceremonial washings
The ceremonially unwashed hands were considered defiled or common.
See this use of the word common in Acts 10:14.
3. The Pharisees had placed a fence around the law by the binding of their
TRADITIONS They literally scrubbed their hands in their rituals
(Mark 7:1-3)
4. They also baptized (immersed) CUPS, POTS, etc. in their traditional
washing of objects. (Mark 7:4)
5. The TRADITIONS of the ELDERS of the Jewish people

(Mark 7:5)

a. The word tradition (paradosis) means what is given.

b. It is used in a GOOD SENSE to refer to the Word of God that
has been given by inspiration of the Lord. Therefore, there
are DIVINE TRADITIONS, Gods Word (II Thessalonians
2:15; 3:6).
c. In a BAD SENSE, it is used for the TRADITIONS OF MEN.. These
are laws that MAN has given which are ADDED to Gods law
(See Matthew 15:1-14, Galatians 1:14; Colossians 2:8). These are
NOT PLEASING TO GOD
d. These HUMAN traditions were a SUBSTITUTE for Gods law, and,
therefore, their worship was VAIN WORSHIP (Mark 7:7, 8).
B. CONFLICT about the CARE OF PARENTS

(Mark 7:9-13)

1. To HONOR father and mother (Exodus 20:12) included the PHYSICAL

HELP that children give to their parents. Note that honor includes help
in I Timothy 5:3 and 5:17, 18.
2. The practice of either literally giving to God or else just symbolically
devoting money to God was called Corban. It was NOT wrong to
give to God, but when this was SUBSTITUTED in place of what God
commanded, IT BECAME WRONG!
(Mark 7:11, 12)
3. Therefore, they annulled, or invalidated the Word of God by following
their tradition
(Mark 7:13)

C. CONFLICT about the SOURCE of DEFILEMENT

(Mark 7:14-23)

1. Jesus taught that the FOOD entering our mouth is NOT what causes us to be
defiled. It is what comes OUT of us that defiles us (Mark 7:14, 15)
2. Jesus was clearing the way to make all meats clean (Mark 7:19)
3. The pollution that comes OUT OF THE HEART

(Mark 7:21-23)

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.

Evil reasoning
Fornication which means illicit sexual intercourse in general
Thefts
(Note Matthew 15:19
Murders (Read Mark 15:7; Hebrews 11:37)
Adulteries, which mean immorality with anothers spouse
Coveting, or greedy desire (Note Luke 12:15; Ephesians 4:19; 5:3)
Wickedness, that is, evil, or depravity
(Note evil in Matthew 7:11)
Deceit which means to ensnare or catch with bait (Read Romans 1:29)
Lasciviousness which means that which is unchaste, indecent
(Study Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 4:19)
j. An Evil Eye, which comes from a heart of evil
k. Railing which means to speak against, blaspheme (II Peter 2:12)
l. Pride which is arrogance (Note II Timothy 3:2)
m. Foolishness is that which is senseless
(II Corinthians 11:1)

II. Jesus RETIREMENT Accompanied By GREAT MIRACLES

(Mark 7:24-8:26)

A. Jesus sought seclusion in Tyre and Sidon among Gentiles, but could not be hidden
(Mark 7:24)
1. Tyre was about 50 kilometers from Capernaum, and Sidon would be about 30
kilometers further. (Read also Luke 4:26 concerning Elijah).
2. A GENTILE lady located Jesus. This area was a part of the Roman province of
Syria. This woman is also called a Canaanitish woman (Matthew 15:22)
B. Healing of the Syro-Phoenician Womans DAUGHTER

(Mark 7:25-30)

1. She begged Jesus to help her, for her daughter was possessed with a demon
2. Jesus TESTED her. It was not proper to take the childrens food and first
give it to the dogs. He had come to the lost sheep of Israel. Read
Matthew 15:24. The word dogs here would evidently refer to domestic
dogs lying at the foot of the master at the table.
3. She begged only the crumbs from the childrens table. Great was her faith!
(Matthew 15:28)
4. Her daughter was HEALED. Note carefully that this was an example of Jesus

HEALING FROM A DISTANCE! Note the POWER of the LORD!

(Mark 7:29, 30). For other examples of Jesus healing at a DISTANCE,
read Matthew 8:5-13 and John 4:46-53.
C. The HEALING of the DEAF MUTE

(Mark 7:31-37)

1. Jesus left Phoenicia and traveled on the east of the Sea of Galilee to the area
of DECAPOLIS
(Mark 7:31). From Capernaum to Phoenicia and then
back to Decapolis may have been about 250 kilometers.
2. They, probably FRIENDS of the DEAF MUTE, brought him to Jesus.
Remember the paralyzed man? (Mark 2:1-12)
3. They begged Jesus to lay His hands on this man. This word, begged, is the
common word parakaleo for beseech, begged, urged. Read also
I Corinthians 1:10 to see this word.
4. Jesus took him aside, which may either suggest that He wanted the man to
His great concern, or, perhaps, even to avoid publicity at this time.
5. See the great CONCERN of Jesus in the healing as He groaned, looked up to
heaven, and said Be opened! (Mark 7:34)
6. He charged them NOT to speak about this, but they published it widely
(Mark 7:36)
7. PLEASE NOTE the astonishment of the people who said, He has done all
things well! (Mark 7:37). What a beautiful statement!
8. At this time, the crowds were pressing on Jesus. Read Matthew 15:29-31)
D. Jesus FED the 4,000

(Mark 8:1-9)

1. At the time of this miracle, Jesus STATED His compassion that He felt for
the people (Mark 8:2). Read also Matthew 9:36-38.
2. It seems here that Jesus is inviting the disciples to ask Him to perform a miracle.
3. The disciples had completely FORGOTTEN the miracle of feeding the 5,000
(Mark 6:30-44)
a. In each new difficulty, people tend to forget FORMER BLESSINGS!
b. Note how Israel in the wilderness had FORGOTTEN that God had
formerly delivered them
(Exodus 17:1-7)
4. Jesus gave THANKS! Read Philippians 4:6. Unthankfulness is a terrible
SIN (Romans 1:21; II Timothy 3:2; Luke 17:11-19)
5. There was abundance! SEVEN BASKETS remained over after eating.
This is the same kind of basket in which Paul was rescued (Acts 9:25;
II Corinthians 11:33)
E. Opposition to Jesus at Dalmanutha
(Mark 8:10-13)
1. Matthew mentions the place Magadan, or Magdala, near Dalmanutha, about

half way down the western side of the Sea of Galilee

2. The Pharisees were there, but also the Sadducees

(Matthew 15:39)

(Matthew 16:1)

3. These opponents of the Lord were seeking for a SIGN. Note this also in other
places
(John 2:18; Matthew 12:38; John 6:30). Did they want Him to
produce MANNA? (John 6:31
4. Jesus was very sorrowful!

Their hearts were so HARD!

F. WARNING against the LEAVEN of the PHARISEES

(Mark 8:14-21)

1. Jesus WAS CHARGING the disciples to look out for the LEAVEN
of the PHARISEES and HEROD
(Mark 8:15). He was continuing
to warn them!
2. He was warning them of the TEACHING of these men

(Matthew 16:12)

3. The disciples thought that He was talking about PHYSICAL BREAD!

4. JESUS REBUKED THEM! (Mark 8:16-18). Dont you remember the
feeding of the 5,000 and the 4,000?
(Mark 8:19-21)
G. The GRADUAL HEALING of a BLIND MAN

(Mark 8:22-26)

1. Bethsaida here may be on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.

2. Notice the beseeching (parakaleo) and the touching in this miracle
(Mark 8:22)
3. AT FIRST, the man could only see people as trees (Mark 8:24). Then, Jesus
laid His hands on him again, and he could see clearly (Mark 8:25)
4. WHY IS THIS A GRADUAL, TWO PART HEALING?
a. The reason for Jesus doing it this way is UNCERTAIN, for He had the
great POWER to heal the man IMMEDIATELY!
b. It is thought possible that Jesus was TEACHING A LESSON. Just as
this man DID NOT SEE CLEARLY AT FIRST, EVEN SO, SOME
PEOPLE, LIKE THE DISCIPLES, DID NOT, AND DO NOT,
UNDERSTAND SPIRITUAL TRUTH AT FIRST.
c. Even in the NEXT PARAGRAPH, there will be people who could NOT
see clearly about Jesus. Some believed Him to be John the Baptist,
or one of the PROPHETS (Mark 8:27, 28)
NEXT: THE GREAT CONFESSION and the EVENTS FOLLOWING