_THE INFLUENCE OF TRADITION_ ‘Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition: … and many such like things do ye.’ Mark 7:13 Such was our Lord’s word to the Pharisees; and if we turn to our own life it is difficult, if not impossible, for us fully to estimate the influence which trad... [ Continue Reading ]
_EVIL FROM WITHIN_ ‘And He said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.… All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.’ Mark 7:20; Mark 7:23 It is a notable characteristic of our Lord’s teaching that He fixes our attention not on outward results, but on inward moti... [ Continue Reading ]
_EVIL FROM WITHIN_ ‘And He said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.… All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.’ Mark 7:20; Mark 7:23 It is a notable characteristic of our Lord’s teaching that He fixes our attention not on outward results, but on inward moti... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE EPIPHANIES OF THE MINISTRY_ ‘He could not be hid.’ Mark 7:24 The Divine in Christ was revealed by the holiness of His character, by His mighty works (John 2:11), by the authority and originality of His utterances, by the influence He exerted. Ultimately He could not go anywhere, even when se... [ Continue Reading ]
_PERSEVERANCE IN PRAYER_ ‘And she answered and said unto Him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs. And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.’ Mark 7:28 I. THE EXAMPLE OF FAITH.—Though apostles entreated that she might... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE USE AND MISUSE OF SPEECH_ ‘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.’ Mark 7:32 Were his friends doing a kind action in bringing this poor afflicted man under the notice of the Great Physician? There can be... [ Continue Reading ]
_HEARING AND SPEECH RESTORED BY CHRIST_ ‘They bring unto Him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech … And straightway his ears were opened … and he spake plain.’ Mark 7:32 Here is a beautiful illustration of Christ’s sympathy. This poor man was in a piteous condition. How many are... [ Continue Reading ]
_ASIDE FROM THE MULTITUDE_ ‘And He took him aside from the multitude.’ Mark 7:33 Our Lord seems to have taken this man apart from the multitude. This is unusual. I. ASIDE FROM THE MULTITUDE.—As we, too, follow the Redeemer, may we not feel that in our own lives He has taken us aside from the mu... [ Continue Reading ]
_WHY DID CHRIST SIGH?_ ‘Looking up to heaven, He sighed.’ Mark 7:34 It may be that Christ sighed because there was some struggle or exhaustion in His human nature, and whenever He exerted His omnipotence He felt the virtue to go out of Him. But, passing by this consideration, may we not suppose t... [ Continue Reading ]
_‘EPHPHATHA!’_ ‘He sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.’ Mark 7:34 I. THE HEARING EAR.—It is certain that an important part of the work of Divine grace is to give to the soul a power of ‘hearing’ effectually; that is, receiving and accepting the Divine truth. It is by this... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE TESTIMONY OF THE MULTITUDE_ ‘He hath done all things well.’ Mark 7:37 Undoubtedly this is one of those comprehensive utterances in which there is more included than was intended by those from whose lips they originally proceeded. It applies:— I. TO OUR LORD’S CHARACTER.—He was not only wit... [ Continue Reading ]