Pharisees and Defilement - Read Mark 7:1-23

Transcription

1 Mark 7 PREVIEW: In Mark 7, Jesus calls the Pharisees and scribes hypocrites because they make God s Word of no value by their oral traditions. Jesus shows compassion and mercy on a Syro-Phoenician woman who demonstrates her faith by her persistence in prayer, and demonstrates His willingness to touch people in their areas of greatest need by healing a deaf and mute man. Mark Outline: Pharisees and Defilement - Read Mark 7:1-23 Syro-Phoenician s Daughter is Healed - Read Mark 7:24-30 Deaf and Mute Man is Healed - Read Mark 7:31-37 Pharisees and Defilement - Read Mark 7: The Jewish oral traditions were written and studied and became known as the Mishnah. One of these traditions dealt with the washing of hands before and during meals. Why did the scribes and Pharisees find fault with Jesus disciples (vv. 1-5)? 2. In addition to the oral tradition of washing hands, what other traditions did the Pharisees and scribes hold to (v.4)? Mark 7 Page 1

2 3. Jesus calls the Pharisees and scribes hypocrites (v.6) as He quotes Isaiah 29:13: This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me It's easy to say you love God to honor Him with your lips but Jesus said that loving Him is obeying His commandments (see John 14:15, 21, and 23). How does this quote from Isaiah describe the heart and worship of those who don t actually keep the commandments of God (vv.6-7)? 4. Jesus responds to the scribes and Pharisees accusations with an accusation of His own. What did Jesus say the scribes and Pharisees were guilty of transgressing (vv. 8-9)? 5. What example does Jesus give to the scribes and Pharisees to reveal to them their transgression (vv. 9-13)? (See also Matthew 15:5-6.) 6. What did Jesus say was the result of the Pharisees' and scribes' transgression of God's commandment to "honor your father and mother (v. 13)? Mark 7 Page 2

3 7. The Pharisees and scribes had traditions that made God s commandments of no effect (v. 13). What are some modern-day traditions that also make God s commandments of no effect? 8. The Pharisees and scribes made God s commandments of no effect (v. 13) by justifying their disobedience through their oral traditions. What are ways we as Christians justify our disobedience of God s commandments? 9. Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men (v. 7) is very dangerous spiritually. Why? (See Colossians 2:20-23 and Titus 1:10-16.) 10. It is important to obey God s commands and not excuse your disobedience because of a tradition. How are we to be diligent in distinguishing what is a commandment of man from what is truly a commandment of God? (See Acts 17:11.) 11. How did the scribes and Pharisees respond to what Jesus said about His disciples not washing their hands according to the oral traditions (see Matthew 15:12)? (See also Matthew 11:6, Isaiah 8:14-15, Romans 9:32, and 1 Peter 2:8.) Mark 7 Page 3

4 12. Jesus called all the multitude to Himself and said that it is not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; rather it is what comes out of your mouth that defiles you (v. 15). Where does that which comes out of your mouth originate? (See Matthew 15:18, Luke 6:45, and James 3:6.) 13. Peter asked Jesus to explain the parable about defilement not coming from what goes into a man, rather from what comes out of him (v. 17). (See also Matthew 15:15.) What becomes of that which enters the mouth (v. 19)? 14. What did Jesus say comes out of a man s heart (vv )? 15. Jesus is saying that a person is not defiled morally by what he eats even if his hands are not ceremonially washed. How is a man defiled (v. 23)? 16. Out of a man s heart proceed many evil thoughts (v. 22). Share with the group how those evil thoughts get into a man s heart. (See Psalm 51:5, Jeremiah 17:9, and Galatians 5:19-21.) Mark 7 Page 4

5 17. How can you tell what is stored in your heart? (See Matthew 12:34 and Luke 6:45.) 18. God made a way for us to keep our hearts (which are desperately wicked) pure. Think about what it takes to keep your heart pure (see John 17:17, Ephesians 5:26, and 1 John 1:8-10). Share your thoughts with the group. 19. To emphasize the significance of Jesus statement (v. 15) for his Christian readers in Rome (some of whom may have been confused over Jewish food laws [see Romans 14:14, Galatians 2:11 17, and Colossians 2:20 22]), Mark adds an editorial comment at the end of verse 19: Thus purifying all foods. Mark is pointing out that Jesus declared all foods clean for Christians, a truth that the early church was slow to grasp. Read Acts 10:9-16. What was Jesus making clear to Peter? Syro-Phoenician s Daughter is Healed - Read Mark 7: Jesus went to the region of Tyre and Sidon, the Gentile coastal region of Phoenicia. What was Jesus hope in going there? Did He get what He had hoped for (v. 24)? Mark 7 Page 5

6 21. In this region, Jesus encountered a Greek, Syro-Phoenician, woman. What did she ask Jesus for (vv )? (See also Matthew 15:22.) 22. What was Jesus initial response to this woman (see Matthew 15:23)? 23. Jesus disciples urged Him to send the woman away (see Matthew 15:23). What reason does Jesus give for not initially addressing her pleading (v. 27)? (See also Matthew 10:5-6.) 24. Despite not receiving a response from Jesus and the disciples urging Him to send her away, what did the Syro-Phoenician woman do (vv )? (See also Matthew 15:25.) How is her response something we should do in our own life and tell others to do when they experience difficult situations? 25. Jews referred to Gentiles as dogs. Jesus used the word kynarion little dogs, the word for a household dog or pet when He said it isn t good to give the children s bread to the little dogs. What was the Syro-Phoenician woman s response to what Jesus said (v. 28)? Mark 7 Page 6

7 26. Jesus answered the Syro-Phoenician woman by calling her gune or woman (see Matthew 15:28). This word is a term of respect; it is the same word He used when He spoke of His mother. What did Jesus tell her? What was done for her (v. 29)? Deaf and Mute Man is Healed - Read Mark 7: Jesus departed the region of Tyre and Sidon and came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee (v. 31). This is the region where Legion, the demoniac who was delivered by Jesus, departed and proclaimed all that Jesus had done for him and all marveled (see Mark 5:20). A man was brought to Jesus while He was in this region. What two issues did this man have in his life (v. 32)? 28. The word used for impediment of speech is mogilalon. This word means speaking with difficulty. It is a rare word in the Bible, used only here and in Isaiah 35:6 where it prophecies of what? 29. Where did Jesus take the man who was brought to Him? What specifically did He do to the man (v. 33)? Mark 7 Page 7

8 30. Why do you think Jesus performed these specific actions on this man? 31. After Jesus touched this man, what two things did He do? What did He say (v. 34)? Why do you think He did those two things? (See also Mark 6:41, and John 11:33, 38, 11:41, and 17:1.) 32. Immediately the man s ears were opened, the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. What did Jesus command those who witnessed this miracle to do? What did they do (v. 36)? 33. Why did they do this despite Jesus commanding them not to do it (v. 37)? 34. The multitude widely proclaimed to everyone, He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak. Think about what Jesus has done for you. Make a list of things that you should be proclaiming widely. Share something from your list with the group. Mark 7 Page 8