7 But in vain do they worship me, teaching [as their] teachings commandments of men.
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as those who are of the nations: for they think they shall be heard through their much speaking.
(things which are all for destruction in the using [of them]:) according to the injunctions and teachings of men,
Everything that I command you, ye shall take heed to do it; thou shalt not add thereto, nor take from it.
and turn ye not aside; for [it would be] after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
Ye say, It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we keep his charge, and that we walk mournfully before Jehovah of hosts?
but if Christ is not raised, then, indeed, vain also [is] our preaching, and vain also your faith.
But the Spirit speaks expressly, that in latter times some shall apostatise from the faith, giving their mind to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons speaking lies in hypocrisy, cauterised as to their own conscience, forbidding to marry, [bidding] to abstain from meats, which God has created for receiving with thanksgiving for them who are faithful and know the truth.
But foolish questions, and genealogies, and strifes, and contentions about the law, shun; for they are unprofitable and vain.
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
And the smoke of their torment goes up to ages of ages, and they have no respite day and night who do homage to the beast and to its image, and if any one receive the mark of its name. Here is the endurance of the saints, who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Mark 7
Commentary on Mark 7 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 7
In this chapter we have,
Mar 7:1-23
One great design of Christ's coming, was, to set aside the ceremonial law which God made, and to put an end to it; to make way for which he begins with the ceremonial law which men had made, and added to the law of God's making, and discharges his disciples from the obligation of that; which here he doth fully, upon occasion of the offence which the Pharisees took at them for the violation of it. These Pharisees and scribes with whom he had this argument, are said to come from Jerusalem down to Galilee-fourscore or a hundred miles, to pick quarrels with our Saviour there, where they supposed him to have the greatest interest and reputation. Had they come so far to be taught by him, their zeal had been commendable; but to come so far to oppose him, and to check the progress of his gospel, was great wickedness. It should seem that the scribes and Pharisees at Jerusalem pretended not only to a pre-eminence above, but to an authority over, the country clergy, and therefore kept up their visitations and sent inquisitors among them, as they did to John when he appeared, Jn. 1:19.
Now in this passage we may observe,
We have here an account of the practice of the Pharisees and all the Jews, v. 3, 4.
Now that which he goes about to set them right in, is, what the pollution is, which we are in danger of being damaged by, v. 15.
Mar 7:24-30
See here,
Mar 7:31-37
Our Lord Jesus seldom staid long in a place, for he knew where his work lay, and attended the changes of it. When he had cured the woman of Canaan's daughter, he had done what he had to do in that place, and therefore presently left those parts, and returned to the sea of Galilee, whereabout his usual residence was; yet he did not come directly thither, but fetched a compass through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis, which lay mostly on the other side Jordan; such long walks did our Lord Jesus take, when he went about doing good.
Now here we have the story of a cure that Christ wrought, which is not recorded by any other of the evangelists; it is of one that was deaf and dumb.
Now this cure was,