Mark 7
Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, 2 they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, 4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” 6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,
“‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
7 in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”
And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden.
But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.
31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.
And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.
And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
What's the First Response? Call Abba. Eyes on Him. Tell HIM how you really are and expect Him to want your best. And expect the Prodigal Father He is going to run to you when it's really a mess - and - even if you made the mess.
Jesus gives us the example of prayer many times and being quiet with God.
Father God, life surely requires prayer now. And I feel sad for the changes in my life and the times I've given pain.
Edward is ill. My mom is older. Family quarrels. Being asked to be better than I can possibly be. We pray for healing and restoration. To Jesus the Lord. Jesus, be our center.
Only the Gift Jesus gives us. Redemption from Jesus. That's the most important thing in the world. Loving God and bringing His Light forth.
God's profound blessings of Cal giving Alexander the car the wonderful little red 1996 SC Lexus two door to his brother Alexander. Cal earned doing RA work in college. God's blessings on those two brothers who Love each other. Alexander spending the family week with Cal packing his belongings, lifting, driving, getting home at 4 in the morning and helping again. Some.
For Xander chipping in to repair the red car. Thank You God to see Fruit of our lives. Thank You for bringing that. Good to see the heart of a Father enriched by his sons.
How can we understand the Works of God?
We read the Works of God to understand the working of our lives.
We actually don't always understand. Because He is that Vast.
We Learn to Trust God.
Imagine going to the rooted and grounded Church of God in a small town. And you have to announce that you don't like their practices of cleanliness and piety. And next, picture the proven medical fact this cleanliness keeps the generations alive to enjoy the innocence of the young - very refreshing. And the beauty of wisdom of the faithful aged.
And you just tell them - 'Forget that'.
Jesus was acting upon His own Authority to announce Kosher was finished. Made the faithful angry. Kosher was proven in the Bronze Age and before. Iron Age and after. We use aspects of Kosher today. To have survival in childbirth, relief from infection, removal of bacteria and increases the immunity system to upbuild the entire community.
And Jesus said "That done, it's only a man-made ritual now."
Jesus was saying He had strengthened the Body to rely upon God. Stripped of cleanliness? God would sustain them. Can you even imagine how this changed life-long habits? To not trust cleanliness of hands and to say God Protect me. Because that would be a frightening step.
The point for us, today, God knows what God is doing better than we do.
God understood what He was saying to Isaiah. Better than the Magi.
Jesus understood what He was saying to the Children of Israel.
This isn't murky. This is saying God wants us to seek the next step. And trust HIM that He is the Light of our path, pleasing Him by seeking out His will in our lives.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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