7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; 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 ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that 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,