Mark 7 - Jesus Focuses On A Person's Heart Condition

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That Which Defiles

The Pharisees were all about externals. Jesus called them "whitewashed tombs". On the outside they looked clean, but on the inside they were like a rotting corspe. The presenting problem today was the disciples were eating their meals before ceremonially washing their hands. In this situation they mistakenly applied the Law that the priests were to wash their hands before they went into the temple to offer sacrifices. Jesus called them on it by saying, 

“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

There was nothing they were doing that had any spiritual significance. Importantly their hearts were far from God. As we know throughout scripture God is always looking at the heart. When Samuel picked David to succeed Saul as King God told him, "Man is always looking at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart". This is why David was called a man after God's own heart. 

Also, when the writer of Hebrews talks about the role of the word of God he says, "The Word of God is living and active sharper than a double edged sword, it divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." 

God knows our hearts, we can't fool him by outward appearances. Jesus makes that even more clear when he says, "Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” verses 14-15

We go to a cardiologist who gives us a diagnosis of our current heart condition. But we go to the Great Physician, who will reveal to us the condition of our spiritual heart!

Jesus Honors a Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith

We have seen many times now where Jesus honored the faith of those who were not Jewish. Today, a Gentile woman boldly came to Jesus asking him to heal her little daughter, who was demon possessed. Once again in Mark, we see his emphasis on Jesus' authority and power over dark spiritual forces of evil.  

At first Jesus did not respond saying, "He had come first to the children of Israel and he needed to them first." But the woman said something quite amazing, "But even the little dogs wait under the table to get a crumb that drops from the table." 

When Jesus saw her great faith immediately the small girl was healed. This is one instance where Jesus did not even have to be physically present to heal someone. We are reminded that Jesus never used just one method to heal and neither should we. We never should get caught up in the mechanical side of praying, but instead focus on praying sincerely from our hearts in Jesus' name. Jesus does the heavy lifting, we are just his agents of healing. 

Jesus Heals a Deaf and Mute Man

As I just mentioned, Jesus never used the same method of healing with everyone. Today he uses a very unusual way of healing the man who was deaf and mute. First, note that the people who brought the man and begged Jesus to heal him were very loving and concerned about this man's needs. Sometimes our role is to bring people to Jesus. 

Jesus put his fingers in the man's ears and then spit and touched the man's tongue. Then he prayed with a deep sigh, "be opened" and the man could speak and hear. Again note that Jesus did just snap his fingers. He prayed with deep concern and empathy. We show people our love and empathy by hearing them and praying for them. Unlike Jesus not everyone we pray for is healed. Yet, everyone we pray for feels the love and compassion of Jesus flowing through us! 

Who is God calling you to reach out to and show compassion for them? Perhaps you might pray for them for healing and provide for them in other tangible ways as well.