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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Mark 7:31 - 7:37
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mar_7:31-37
31Again He went out from the region of Tyre, and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, within the region of Decapolis. 32They brought to Him one who was deaf and spoke with difficulty, and they implored Him to lay His hand on him. 33Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva; 34and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He said to him, "Ephphatha!" that is, "Be opened!" 35And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly. 36And He gave them orders not to tell anyone; but the more He ordered them, the more widely they continued to proclaim it. 37They were utterly astonished, saying, "He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."
Mar_7:31 This geographical description is unusual. Sidon was north of Tyre on the coast, while the Decapolis was south and east of the Sea of Galilee. The NKJV has "departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon," but this translation is not supported by P45, A, W, and the Peshitta. Most textual critics support the more difficult text which takes Jesus north and east before going south.
▣ "Sea of Galilee" This same body of water is called (1) Chennereth in the OT; (2) Lake of Gennesaret in Luk_5:1; and (3) Sea of Tiberias during the first century Roman period in Joh_6:1; Joh_21:1.
▣ "region of Decapolis" This was the area of the Gedarene Demoniac (cf. Mar_5:1-20). It was also a Gentile area to the east and south of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus' ministry in these areas shows His love for the Gentiles.
Mar_7:32 "was deaf and spoke with difficulty" This term is used only here in the NT and in the Septuagint in Isa_35:6. Mar_7:37 may relate to Isa_35:5-6, which describes the future healing ministry of the Messiah.
▣ "to lay His hand on him" See Special Topic following.
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Mar_7:33 "took him aside from the crowd" This was both to stop the stories about His healing and to make the man feel more at ease (cf. Mar_8:23).
▣ "put His fingers into his ears" Jesus was communicating to the man what He was trying to do in culturally acceptable physical gestures (i.e., a finger in the ear and saliva on the tongue).
▣ "He touched his tongue with the saliva" Saliva was commonly used medicinally in the first century Mediterranean world. It was meant to increase the man's faith.
Mar_7:34 "and looking up to heaven" This was the standard physical posture for Jewish prayer in Jesus' day (i.e., standing, eyes open, head raised, hands raised).
▣ "with a deep sigh" This refers to an inarticulate sound that expresses strong emotion (cf. Romans 4; Rom_8:22-23; 2Co_5:12). Whether it is positive (cf. Mar_7:34; Rom_8:26) or negative (cf. Act_7:34; Jas_5:9) depends on the literary context. This may have revealed Jesus' grief over sin and sickness in a world devastated by rebellion. A compound form of this term appears in Mar_8:12.
▣ "Ephphatha" This is an Aramaic aorist passive imperative, meaning "be opened" (and they were, cf. Mar_7:35). Peter remembered the very Aramaic words which Jesus spoke and Mark translated it into Greek for his Gentile (i.e., Roman) readers. See note at Mar_5:41.
Mar_7:36 "He gave them orders not to tell anyone" The reason for this was that the gospel was not yet complete. Jesus did not want to be known as a miracle worker. The press of the crowds was already a problem. This "Messianic Secret" is characteristic of Mark. However, it is surprising because Jesus does so many acts and says such revealing things about Himself in Mark. Jesus clearly reveals Himself as Messiah and fulfills current Jewish expectations to those who had spiritual eyes to see!
Mar_7:37 Healing the deaf was a clear Messianic sign (cf. Isa_35:5-6).
▣ "'He has done all things well'" This is a perfect active indicative. What a summary statement made by the people of northern Palestine!
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