Mark 7 Mark 7:1–13 The Pharisees finding fault with his disciples for eating with unwashen hands, Christ reproveth them of hypocrisy, and of making void the commandments of God by the traditions of men.

See Poole on “Matt. 15:1”, and following verses to Matt. 15:9. By the notion of traditions, our Saviour understandeth not such things as were delivered to them by God in his law, but such things as were delivered to them by the elders, that is, their rulers in the church in the former times; for,…

Our Saviour’s calling all the people unto him before he spake what next followeth, and his prefacing that discourse with, Hearken every one of you, and understand, lets us know that what he was about to say was a point of great moment, well worth their learning and observation.

The addition of these words, If any man have ears to hear, let him hear, confirm what I observed before, that our Saviour looked upon what he said as a truth of very great moment, and withal as such a notion which carnal hearts and superstitious persons had no ears to hear.

That is, concerning this saying of his, which appeared to them dark, for a parable sometimes in Scripture signifieth no more, Ps. 49:4; yet one would think that our Saviour’s saying was plain enough. But custom is a great tyrant.

Christ checks his disciples for understanding things no better. Ignorance is more excusable in those who are strangers to God and Christ than in those that have relation to him.

Matthew records this history with several considerable additions; See Poole on “Matt. 15:21”, and following verses to Matt. 15:28, where we have largely opened it.

This history is recorded by Mark only. And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. We heard, Mark 7:24, of his going into those coasts; some think that our Saviour did not go out of the Jewish country, though he went to the coasts of Tire and Sidon, which were pagan countries.