Mark 7
The Pharisees found fault when the disciples did not wash their hands before eating. It has been said that sin and religiousness often go hand in hand.
This washing rule was a tradition. A tradition may be a man-made rule, insisted on in a religious way by legal individuals. It also may be "instructions"-principles approved by Scripture (2 Thess. 2:1515Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. (2 Thessalonians 2:15) JND).
The Lord reminded them of Isaiah's rebuke to Israel, This people draw near Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor Me, but have removed their heart far from Me." Isa. 29:1313Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: (Isaiah 29:13). The Pharisees rejected the commandments of God in order to keep their own traditions. May it not be so with us. How careful we should be to observe and follow the principles of Scripture.
Nothing from without defiles a man, but what comes from within, from the heart. The Lord revealed in detail to the people the heart in all of its wickedness. There is no remedy for this condition, but the cross of Christ, where all of our sins are put away forever; then a new heart (a new nature) is given to those who believe.
Tyre and Sidon
The Lord quietly entered a house where there was a need, hoping that no one else would know. But He could not be hid.
A Syrophenician woman, whose daughter was possessed by a demon, asked Jesus for help. He told her that the children (Jews) must first be filled; the children’s bread must not be cast to dogs (Gentiles). She answered, "Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs." For her saying, the demon departed from her daughter. The woman was under the curse (Gen. 9:2525And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. (Genesis 9:25)), but there is no curse where Jesus blesses.
One Deaf and Dumb
Coming to the sea of Galilee through Decapolis, Jesus finds one who is deaf and dumb. They ask Jesus to place His hand on him. Taking him aside and putting His fingers into his ears, the Lord spit and touched the tongue of the man who was deaf and dumb and said, as He looked up to heaven, "Be opened." His ears were opened and his tongue was loosed and he spoke plainly. These things were published abroad, and the astonished people said that Jesus did all things well. What comes from man defiles; what comes from Jesus heals.