1
At one time a group of Pharisees and some scribes from Jerusalem came to Jesus.

2
They saw that some of His disciples ate with unclean hands, that is, with hands that had not been washed.

3
For the Pharisees, like the other Jews, do not eat unless they first wash their hands, because they hold to the traditions of the elders;

4
and when they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they first cleanse themselves. There are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups, pitchers, and bronze vessels.

5
So the Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with unclean hands?”

6
He answered them, “Isaiah was right in prophesying about you hypocrites, as it is written:
This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.

7
In vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.

8
You set aside the commandment of God in order to keep the tradition of men.”

9
Jesus also said to them, “You are very skilled at setting aside the commandment of God, so that you may keep your own tradition.

10
For Moses said: Honor your father and your mother; and: Whoever curses his father or mother must die.

11
But you say: If a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever I have that could be used to help you is Corban’—that is, an offering to God—,

12
then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother.

13
Thus you make the word of God of no effect by the tradition you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

14
Then Jesus called the crowd to Him again and said to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand.

15
Nothing that enters a person from outside can defile him; rather, what comes out of a person, that is what defiles him.”

16
[If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!]

17
When He had entered a house and left the crowd behind, His disciples asked Him about the meaning of the parable.

18
So He said to them, “Are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever enters a person from outside cannot defile him,

19
because it does not go into his heart but into his stomach, and then is expelled into the latrine?” Thus He declared all foods clean.

20
He said further, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him,

21
for from within, out of the heart of people, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder,

22
adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lust, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.

23
All these evil things come from within and defile a person.”

24
Then Jesus arose from there and went to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it, but His coming could not be kept hidden.

25
But immediately a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, heard about Him and came and fell down at His feet.

26
Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth. She begged Jesus to cast the demon out of her daughter.

27
Then Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

28
But she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord. Yet even the dogs under the table eat the crumbs that fall from the children.”

29
Then Jesus said to her, “Because of this word, go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.”

30
And when she had gone to her house, she found the child lying on the bed, and the demon had gone out.

31
Then Jesus left the region of Tyre again and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the midst of the region of Decapolis.

32
There they brought to Him one who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged Him to lay His hand on him.

33
And after Jesus had taken him aside from the crowd, so that they were alone, He put His fingers into the man’s ears, and He spat and touched his tongue.

34
Then, looking up to heaven, Jesus sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!”

35
Immediately his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.

36
Jesus charged them that they should tell no one. But the more He charged them, the more widely they proclaimed it.

37
They were astonished beyond measure and said, “He has done all things well; He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

📖 Mark 7 – The Heart Is More Important than Outward Tradition

🧾 Summary of Mark 7

Mark 7 shows Jesus’ confrontation with the Pharisees concerning human tradition versus the law of God, as well as two healing accounts that show Jesus’ love and power reaching anyone—including non-Jewish people.

Main Points:

1. Jesus and the Tradition of the Pharisees (verses 1–23):

   • The Pharisees criticized Jesus’ disciples for eating without washing their hands according to the tradition of the elders.

   • Jesus rebuked them for putting tradition above the word of God, such as allowing a child not to help his parents on the pretext of an offering called “corban.”

   • Jesus explained that what defiles a person does not come from outside, but from within the human heart.

   • Key verse:

     “What comes out of a person, that is what defiles him.” (Mk 7:20)

2. The Syrophoenician Woman (verses 24–30):

   • A Gentile woman begged that her daughter, who was possessed, be healed.

   • Jesus tested her faith, speaking of Israel’s priority first, yet she answered humbly:

     “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the table.”

   • Because of her faith, Jesus healed her child from a distance.

3. Healing of the Deaf and Stammering Man (verses 31–37):

   • Jesus healed a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment by touching his ears and his tongue and saying, “Ephphatha” (be opened).

   • At once the man could hear and speak clearly.

📘 Main Teachings of Mark 7

1. Human tradition must not replace the truth of God’s word.
2. God looks at the heart, not only outward actions.
3. What comes from the heart—such as evil thoughts, pride, and hatred—defiles a person.
4. True faith does not look at nationality or status—God values humility and trust.
5. Jesus meets human needs personally and with compassion.

✨ Spiritual Meaning of Mark 7

• True worship and devotion to God must come from a clean and sincere heart, not merely from religious formality.
• The humble person who surrenders to the Lord will receive His help, even when feeling unworthy.
• The Lord does not limit His grace only to people in a certain “group”—He reaches all nations.
• Jesus does not only heal physically, but also restores socially and spiritually.