Gospel of Mark NT352

Fall 2016
THE TRADITIONS AND COMMANDS OF MEN
MARK 7:1-37

Jesus and the Problem

of Tradition 1-13
Arrival of the Pharisees and Scribes 1-5
Scribes and Pharisees noticed disciples did not keep the washing tradition
This hand washing wasnt soap and water but tedious and complex
Notice in verse 3, Mark gives background for his audience
Not there to learn but to challenge Jesus for misleading his disciples
Elders = esteemed Rabbis with expanded teachings on ceremonial things

Jesus and the Problem of

Tradition 1-13
Error of the Pharisees and Scribes 6-13
Hypocrites = pretenders / actors under an assumed character
This is a general voiding of Gods commands for traditions of men
Care for parents by the children pleases God and is often their only help

Replica of
an ancient
Torah
scroll.

Jesus and the Problem of

the Heart 14-23
It's Not the Outside that Makes Unclean 14-16
Jews believed holiness was achieved by many externals
The OT only required ceremonial meals to be eaten in state of purity
Priests eating the sacrificial offerings had to be pure (Lev. 22:3-9); and
Laypersons eating their portion of the fellowship offering (7:20-21)

Jesus did not follow unbiblical traditions and clarified the nature of eating

Pottery
excavated
east of
Jerusalem
at the
Monastery
of St.
Martyrius.

Jesus and the Problem of

the Heart 14-23
Jesus Clarifies the Parable 17-23
Its not what goes in but what comes out = actions and words
The heart is most important = not the organ but the center of man
Jesus summarizes the research of psychologists = the heart is the problem
N.B. Sin is found in every social status = lower, middle and upper class!

Jesus and the Syrophoenician

Woman 24-30
Jesus Could not be Hidden nor Indifferent 24-30
Jesus tried to lay low at this house in the region of Tyre and Sidon
Jews did not associate with Gentiles yet Jesus goes to the unclean
Mark clarifies that she was a Gentile Syrophoenician - why important?
Contrasting children and dogs = is Jesus rude or saying something else?

Tyre from
Galilee is
about 30
miles

Zarephath
Elijah saved a
widows son (1
Kings 17:9)

Jesus and the

Deaf Mute 31-37
Jesus Returns from the Region 31

This presents a routing problem that needs to be reconciled see map

Tyre to
Sidon is
about 25
miles
border to
border

This route
seems
illogical to
most scholars

Jesus and the

Deaf Mute 31-37
Solution for the journey exists the problem assumes two things wrongly:
Mark intended to summarize the trip (v.31) but confused the geography
Jesus had no reason to take a longer route because Mark mentions nothing

Three solutions linked to the Greek

Midst of Decapolis can be taken as the middle refers to populated area
Midst of Decapolis may connect to antecedent of Jesus route not the sea
Midst of Decapolis can be where the miracle took place ending at Hippos

This is not so
unreasonable
we do not have
complete data to
know why Jesus
would take this
route

Jesus and the

Deaf Mute 31-37
Jesus Heals the Deaf Man 32-37

Fingers in ears, spitting and touching his tongue = what is Jesus doing?
Wonderful example of how to reach the lost world for Jesus

Gospel of Mark NT352

Fall 2016
THE TRADITIONS AND COMMANDS OF MEN
MARK 7:1-37

The Gospel of Mark

NT352 Fall 2016
Seeing things Clearly
Mark 8:1-38

Jesus and the

Four Thousand 1-10
Jesus

Compassion 1-3

Jesus informed the disciples that He had compassion

Jesus compassion is a deep emotion that does not remain inactive
Jesus was working on the problem before the multitude knew

Jesus and the

Four Thousand 1-10
His Power 4-10
By stating his compassion, the disciples know Jesus wants THEM to help
Jesus does the supernatural through the natural and wants to involve us
Disciples respond to this impossibility as if the 5,000 never happened
The desert is a type of world - desolate with nothing for the hungry soul
Our little and His abundance = we do the possible and He the impossible

Magdala
excavations
from south

Jesus and
the Pharisees 11-21
Pharisees

seek a sign 11-13

A sign to prove him verifying prophets was the job of pharisees

Jesus sighed a second time first was deaf mute (Mk 7:34)

Jesus and
the Pharisees 11-21

Leaven of Pharisees and Herod 14-21

Not a hidden message about bread but a warning of leaven
In rabbinic literature following the New Testament, it stands for the evil
disposition in people
In many other places of the NT it refers to the hypocrisy of people
In context here it likely refers to their unbelief and demand for a sign

Is there a conflict between v.14 and v.16 one loaf vs. no bread?
Jesus questions deal with their preoccupation over material things

Jesus and
Public Opinion 22-38
Jesus

Heals a Blind Man 22-26

Took him by the hand and lead all the way out of the village
This is the first time Jesus asks if a person was healed why?
Outward vision and inner perception are not the same thing

Jesus and
Public Opinion 22-38
Peter

Confesses Christ 27-30

This continues from the previous passage Peter sees clearly now
All must answer this accountable for what and why we believe

Jesus and
Public Opinion 22-38

Peter Rebukes Jesus 31-38

Peter began to rebuke the Son of God amazing!
Jesus implies that the real problem is self-will in Peter and others

The Gospel of Mark

NT352 Fall 2016
Seeing things Clearly
Mark 8:1-38