Stories of the Rabbi 12

Mark 7:24-37 Two healings - back to the Gentiles

I. Healing of a Gentile woman’s daughter 7:24-30

a. Vs. 24a—Jesus left Galilee, a Jewish region, and went to Tyre. Tyre was a coastal city in what is now modern-day Lebanon, about 35 miles west of Capernaum. It was immersed in international commerce and was a thoroughly Gentile city.

i. Why do you think Jesus is heading back to the Gentiles?

ii. Why do you think Mark is adding this to his narrative of Jesus?

b. Vs. 24b—Jesus is attempting to enter a house—again, the crowds are significant, and Jesus can’t move through the region incognito.

c. Vs. 25 – A woman pleading for the healing of her daughter from an evil spirit (demon) falls at Jesus’ feet (προσπίπτω prospiptō – where we get the word prostrate – it is an act of worship and submission like Jairus and the bleeding woman). Apparently, her daughter is so stricken by the demon that she cannot be in Jesus’ presence.

d. Vs. 26 – The woman was labeled Greek (some translations use Gentile). The term Greek Ἑλληνίς Hellēnis was a general term used for all Gentile pagans. It does not mean that she was of Greek descent but that she was culturally gentile and pagan. Phoenicia was the whole region of Tyre and Sidon. Mark is telling us she was a lifelong resident of Tyre.

e. Vs. 27 – Jesus says something very strange and seemingly very harsh to the woman: “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs.”

i. The word used here for dogs is κυνάριον kunarion, or “little dogs.” Jesus is using a metaphor of a typical Gentile household where, during a meal, the children are fed first, and then the pet dogs are fed. Jesus is not using the Semitic image of dogs being filthy carrion eaters but of cute, household pets.

1. He is calling Jewish people children and Gentile people dogs. Why?

a. Jesus rightly calls out that He was sent first for Israel but then to the Gentiles.

b. If Jesus declared unclean foods clean – would this not also apply to people?

f. Vs. 28-30 – How does the woman see Jesus’ statement?

i. The woman sees Jesus’s statement as an invitation

ii. Jesus heals her daughter

iii. What are some of the principles of this encounter?

1. The Gospel is for everyone, not a select few (go back to Mark 4)

2. Jesus wants to heal us when we come to him.

II. Healing of a deaf man 7:31-37

a. Vs. 31 – Jesus leaves the Gentile area of Tyre and moves to the Gentile area of the Decapolis (Eastern side of the Sea of Galilee – what is now known as the Golan Heights)

b. Vs. 32 – Read Mark 2:2-3 – what are some similarities and differences between the two?

i. The man was described as κωφός kōphos—which is more in line with being deaf/mute—and μογγιλάλος mongilalos, meaning having difficulty speaking.

ii. Possibly had a stroke?

c. Vss. 33 – 35 Jesus did what?!?

i. Jesus took the man aside to heal him privately – why?

ii. Jesus did six actions:

1. He put His fingers into the man’s ears – as part of the request to put hands on Him (vs. 32)

2. He spits – Semitic folklore believed that saliva contained healing properties

3. He touched the man’s tongue

4. He looked up to Heaven—healing is normal in the Kingdom of God—and Jesus was bringing Heaven to Earth.

5. He gave a deep sigh – breath of life and healing power

6. He spoke an Aramaic word – Be opened – and the man was healed

d. Mark is using Jesus to mock the pagan magicians who would publicly use grand gestures in their healing shows in order to make money.

e. Vss. 36-37 – Jesus told them not to tell anyone

i. The more He healed, the more they talked about it