21 Because from inside, from the heart of men, come evil thoughts and unclean pleasures, 22 The taking of goods and of life, broken faith between husband and wife, the desire of wealth, wrongdoing, deceit, sins of the flesh, an evil eye, angry words, pride, foolish acts: 23 All these evil things come from inside, and make the man unclean.
24 And he went away from there to the country of Tyre and Sidon. And he went into a house, desiring that no man might have knowledge of it: and he was not able to keep it secret. 25 But a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having had news of him, came straight away and went down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Greek, a Syro-phoenician by birth: and she made a request to him that he would send the evil spirit out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, Let the children first have their food: for it is not right to take the children's bread and give it to the dogs. 28 But she said to him in answer, Yes, Lord: even the dogs under the table take the bits dropped by the children. 29 And he said to her, For this saying go your way; the evil spirit has gone out of your daughter. 30 And she went away to her house, and saw the child on the bed, and the evil spirit gone out.
31 And again he went out from Tyre, and came through Sidon to the sea of Galilee, through the country of Decapolis. 32 And they came to him with one who had no power of hearing and had trouble in talking; and they made a request to him to put his hands on him. 33 And he took him on one side from the people privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he put water from his mouth on the man's tongue with his finger; 34 And looking up to heaven, he took a deep breath, and said to him, Ephphatha, that is, Be open. 35 And his ears became open, and the band of his tongue was made loose, and his words became clear. 36 And he gave them orders not to give news of it to anyone; but the more he made this request, so much the more they made it public. 37 And they were overcome with wonder, saying, He has done all things well: he even gives back the power of hearing and the power of talking to those who have been without them.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 7:21-41
Commentary on Mark 7:14-23
(Read Mark 7:14-23)
Our wicked thoughts and affections, words and actions, defile us, and these only. As a corrupt fountain sends forth corrupt streams, so does a corrupt heart send forth corrupt reasonings, corrupt appetites and passions, and all the wicked words and actions that come from them. A spiritual understanding of the law of God, and a sense of the evil of sin, will cause a man to seek for the grace of the Holy Spirit, to keep down the evil thoughts and affections that work within.
Commentary on Mark 7:24-30
(Read Mark 7:24-30)
Christ never put any from him that fell at his feet, which a poor trembling soul may do. As she was a good woman, so a good mother. This sent her to Christ. His saying, Let the children first be filled, shows that there was mercy for the Gentiles, and not far off. She spoke, not as making light of the mercy, but magnifying the abundance of miraculous cures among the Jews, in comparison with which a single cure was but as a crumb. Thus, while proud Pharisees are left by the blessed Saviour, he manifests his compassion to poor humbled sinners, who look to him for children's bread. He still goes about to seek and save the lost.
Commentary on Mark 7:31-37
(Read Mark 7:31-37)
Here is a cure of one that was deaf and dumb. Those who brought this poor man to Christ, besought him to observe the case, and put forth his power. Our Lord used more outward actions in the doing of this cure than usual. These were only signs of Christ's power to cure the man, to encourage his faith, and theirs that brought him. Though we find great variety in the cases and manner of relief of those who applied to Christ, yet all obtained the relief they sought. Thus it still is in the great concerns of our souls.