COMMENTARY ON MARK
LESSON NUMBER 83
“ Mark 7:35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. 36 And He charged them that they should tell no man: but the more He charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; 37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: He maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.” (Mark 7:35-37; Matthew 15:31)
THE DEAF MAN WITH AN IMPEDIMENT #2
INTRODUCTION
Accenting that sin has caused a fundamental deficiency in men hearing God and speaking the things of God, the Lord is facing a man who is deaf and has an stuttering impediment in his speech. While the man’s condition was, of itself, a most pitiable one, it was only a faint reflection of the more serious condition of the human spirit and soul. With the induction of sin into this world a growth formed over the inner ear, making it impossible to decipher the voice of the Lord. Now a basic flaw was also found in the way people spoke. They became incapable of speaking clearly about man’s condition, the real nature of the world, and the nature, purpose, and Word of the Lord. This inner condition was infinitely more serious and pervasive than the state of the man standing before Jesus. It was a circumstance found in all men, while only a small percentage of them possessed the outward infirmities of deafness and difficulties of speech. Notwithstanding that consideration, the cure administered by Jesus is as thoroughly effective in the inner man as it is in the outward man. Those who have been changed “by the glory of the Lord” (2 Cor 3:18) find themselves able to hear Him who is speaking from heaven (Heb 12:25). They are able to perceive His will and His direction, and the Scriptures are understood to be a personal message received from the Lord. Believers are also able to speak more intelligently about things pertaining to life and godliness, and are no longer “stammerers” in their speech. Now they can edify the saints.
THE MAN IS THOROUGHLY HEALED
“ Mk 7:35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.”
Jesus had “put His fingers into” the “ears” of the deaf man – touching, as it were, the deficient part. He has also touched his tongue with His own spittle, again touching the incapable part. In addition the Lord has said, “Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.” Now comes the acid test. Will the word of Jesus have power? Will His touch be effective? We have all confronted powerless speakers and those whose touch was ineffective. What of the Lord Jesus Christ. Will He be a disappointment also? If He really “came down from heaven” (John 3:13; 6:51), then the authority of heaven will be found in His word, for “the heavens do rule” (Dan 4:26). This is especially important to note because of the times in which we are living. Religion is nearly dominated by powerless words – words that must be presented over and over in workshops, how-to seminars, and counseling sessions. Talk has been exalted above effectiveness, even though “the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power” NIV (1 Cor 4:20). Here Jesus has said “Be opened!” Will that word be as effective as when He said, “Rise, take up thy bed and walk” (John 5:4), or “Peace, be still” (Mk 4:39), or “Lazarus, come forth” (John 11:4), or “be whole of thy plague” (Mk 5:34). Will nature yield to Jesus? Will the powers of darkness obey Him? This is not something about which are to theorize, it is something that must be known and discerned. This is the same Jesus who says, “thy sins be forgiven thee” (Matt 9:2), “your names are written I heaven” (Lk 10:20), and “my peace give I unto you” (John 14:27). This is the one who teaches us (Eph 4:20-21), and we must know if His word is effective!
Holy men have always understood the advantages of the Lord speaking, and of the need to be alert to His voice, and ready to receive from Him. When Samuel was young, and did not yet “know the Lord” (1 Sam 3:7), Eli instructed him on how to respond to the voice of the Lord: “if He call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD” (1 Sam 3:9). When Saul of Tarsus heard Jesus speak, he instantly replied, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” When Jesus told him what to do he “arose from the earth” and did precisely what he was told (Acts 9:6-9). One of the becoming traits of David is that he stood ready to respond immediately to the Lord, and he pled with the Lord that He would not be silent: “keep not silence: O LORD, be not far from me” (Psa 35:22).
Every valid religious renewal or revival has been noted for sensitivity to the voice of the Lord, and a consequent instant obedience. As soon as the Lord’s will was known, those “whose hearts God had touched” (1 Sam 10:26) did what was said. Wherever there is a sluggardly response to the Lord – dullness of hearing (Heb 5:11), and slowness of heart to believe (Lk 24:25) – a kingdom abnormality exists. This is the trait of a people rejected, not a people accepted.
STRAIGHTWAY. Other versions read “immediately,” NKJV “At this,” NIV “instantly,” NLT and “at once.” ISV That is, as soon as the word was spoken, the man’s condition was altered. Thus the man would associate his healing with the word of Christ and the touch of Christ.
It is quite true that there are instances where the word of Christ appeared to be delayed. In the case of the healing of the ten lepers it is written, “as they went they were cleansed” (Lk 17:17). In the healing of the man born blind, he was healed after he left Jesus. It is said of him, “He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing” (John 9:7). However, in both of those cases, Jesus had NOT said they were healed. He said to the ten lepers, “Go show yourselves to the priests” (Lk 17:14). He said to the blind man, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (John 9:7). In these cases, the “straightway” occurred when they did what Jesus commanded them to do.
Without lingering long on this matter, many people have never made any progress in Christ Jesus because they have not believed, or yielded to, His word. They simply have not taken the word of the Lord seriously.
HIS EARS WERE OPENED. That is precisely what Jesus had commanded: “Be opened!” The word “opened” means “opened thoroughly,” or completely. STRONG’S The idea is that he could “hear clearly.” IE Since the word “Ephphatha” was addressed to the man himself, it is to be understood that he actually heard it. The man did not receive hearing in one ear, but both of them: “ears!” This is a picture of giving one’s hearing capacities to the Lord.
THE STRING OF HIS TONGUE WAS LOOSED. The impairment of speech was immediately rectified, yielding to the word of the Lord. Before, he could not move his tongue properly, but now he could.
HE SPAKE PLAIN. Renewed capacities must be employed, and therefore the man spoke plainly. I do not know what words he first spoke, but they must have been words of praise and thanksgiving, like the lame man who was healed. He entered the Temple “walking, and leaping, and praising God” (Acts 3:8). Parts of our human constitution, both inward and outward, are to be given to the Lord as a thank offering (Rom 6:13,19).
THE PEOPLE SPEAK ABOUT IT A GREAT DEAL
“ 36 And He charged them that they should tell no man: but the more He charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it.”
There is something in this text that we do well to understand. The cause for Jesus’ entrance into the world is revealed several times. Jesus told Pilate that He came into the world “to bear witness of the truth” (John 18:37). He told the multitudes that He came “to do the will of Him that sent” Him (John 6:38). Other revealed causes include, “to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt 20:28), “destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8), to “lay down” His life and “take it up” again (John 10:17-18), and “to put away sin” (Heb 9:26). Jesus healed people, but that is not why He came! He miraculously fed people, but that is not why He came. He calmed storms, withered fig trees, and made a fish deliver a coin for taxes – but that is not why He came. There was no human sickness He could not cure – but that is not why He came.
If you want to be guaranteed of benefit from the Lord Jesus, you must come to grips with WHY He came, why He died, and why He rose again! Jesus does not guarantee that when you come to Him you will from that day forward be in good health, have an abundance, and be successful in all that you do. That can happen, and it may very well take place – but it is not guaranteed! No honest person can doubt this, for Jesus did not heal all of the sick when He was here. He did not relieve all of the poor when He was here. That is not why He came! That is not what REQUIRED that He come into the world and die.
If a person comes to Jesus, and “receives Him,” believing on His name (John 1:12), and obeying Him(Heb 5:9), there are things that we can guarantee they will receive – and they all have to do with WHY He came. They will receive the “remission of sins” and “the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38), “peace with God” (Rom 5:1), “access to the Father” (Eph 2:18), a purged conscience (Heb 9:14), an inheritance (Eph 1:11), and “the Spirit of adoption” (Rom 8:15). That is guaranteed, and there is not the slightest chance that any person can come to Jesus, believe on Him, receive Him, and obey Him without these things taking place. Now, we are ready to deal with this verse.
HE CHARGED THEM. He “charged THEM” – that is, the man and the people who had brought him to Jesus (v 32). They were to “tell no man” what Jesus had done for this infirmed person. This is the same thing He told a certain leper, toward whom, Jesus was moved with compassion (Mk 1:44). He gave a similar charge to unclean spirits who confessed Him (Mk 3:12). He said the same thing to Jairus and his wife when He had raised their daughter from the dead (Mk 5:43). After his discourse on Him building His church upon the Rock of the confession of Himself, He charged His disciples to “tell no man that He was Jesus the Christ” (Matt 16:20; Lk 9:20-21). After He had been transfigured before Peter, James, and John, He “charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen” (Mk 9:9).
And why not tell the people what He had done? There are several reasons. First, that is not why Jesus came. In fact, He was now entering into the period of time that would lead to His purpose for coming – laying down His life as a ransom. Nothing must be allowed that would detract from that singular event. Second, He did not come to become popular among the people – particularly for the temporal benefits He could give them. In fact, it was His popularity that, from the human point of view, finally led to His death. Those who carefully plotted His death particularly cited His “miracles” as the threatening factor (John 11:47-48). Third, as a lesson to His disciples that the more prominent testimony was to be the Gospel itself, and not a personal testimony. Faith does not come from hearing testimonies, as valuable as they are, but through hearing the Gospel – what Jesus has done for every man (Rom, 1:16); 10:17). Jesus had called them to “preach” the Gospel(Mk 3:14; 16:15).
There remains to this day a view of Jesus that emphasizes His ability to solve one’s problems in this world. That He can, in fact, do this, cannot be denied. Notwithstanding, that does not always happen. James can be beheaded by Herod (Acts 12:1). The church can be severely persecuted (Acts 8:1-4). Paul can have a “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor 12:7). Timothy can have “often infirmities” (1 Tim 5:23). There can be “poor saints which are at Jerusalem” (Rom 15:26). However, ALL who are in Christ Jesus are forgiven, justified, have peace with God, and are citizens of heaven. They all have the Holy Spirit, and their names are written in heaven. Those and similar, benefits required that Jesus come, die, be raised from the dead, and ascend into heaven. They are the primary things that are to be related with the Lord’s Christ.
THE MORE HE CHARGED. The more Jesus charged the people to keep this matter quiet, the more they told it. A leper whom Jesus cleansed and charged to keep it quiet did the same thing – so much so that Christ’s public ministry was inhibited (Mk 1:45).
The testimony of the man and those with him, though ignoring the word of Jesus, confirms the legitimacy of the miracle. It remains true that when the Lord truly works within a person they are more apt to speak about it.
HE HATH DONE ALL THINGS WELL
“ 33 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: He maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.”
It is good to make special note of the various responses of the people to the works of Jesus. They were not always the same. When seeing them, some “believed on Him” (John 2:23), multitudes “followed Him” (John 6:2), some were offended by them (John 9:16), others were intimidated by them (John 11:47), others, even though they saw many miracles, “yet they believed not on Him” (John 12:37). His disciples once observed, “What manner of Man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!” (Matt 8:27). Again after witnessing Jesus walking on the water, entering their ship, and the wind ceasing, it is said of them, “they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered” (Mark 6:51). How will those in our text respond?
ASTONISHED BEYOND MEASURE. After bringing the man to Jesus, and pleading with Jesus to heal him (v 32), when He had healed the man as they requested, “they were utterly astonished,” NASB or “overwhelmed with amazement.” NIV What they had just witnessed contradicted all human experience. They had been exposed to a power that did not have its genesis in this world – that is what caused the amazement. Other versions read that they were “overwhelmingly dumbfounded,” WILLIAMS and “overcome with utter amazement,” LIVING Matthew says “the multitude wondered,” or “were amazed” NIV (Matt 15:31).
The idea is that their wisdom withered in the presence of such marvelous power. There was no earthly way to account for what they had seen. They were like the critics of the apostles who had seen the former lame man Peter healed at the entrance of the Temple. “And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it . . . for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it” (Acts 4:14-16). This could not have been done by any legitimate physician, or by any sorcerer like Simon, who made out as though he was “some great one” (Acts 8:9-10).
If there is one telling mark found in the modern church, it is the near-total lack of any works that cause astonishment. The works being performed are too ordinary – too much of this world. If things appear to be remarkable, they can be upstaged by those in the world who have more riches, more influence, and more impressive works. It appears as though modern Christianity is attempting to do too many things that others can do – things relating to the domestic scene, uncomely habits, etc. But when they have actually fulfilled their aims, there is no cause for astonishment or marvel in them. They can easily be explained by pointing to the activities and wisdom of men. But when Jesus worked, this could not be done.
The church ought to be noted for things than cannot be accomplished any other way. Included are an undefiled conscience (Heb 9:14), liberty than gives no license to the flesh (Gal 5:13), being taught by God (1 Thess 4:9), being filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding (Col 1:9), and having one’s affection set on things above, and not on things on the earth (Col 3:1-2). Make no mistake about this, the presence of such people are an astonishment to the beholders, for such things are not from this world.
HE HATH DONE ALL THINGS WELL. Other versions read, “He does everything excellently,” MRD “everything He does is good,” NJB and “everything He does is wonderful.” NLT When Jesus healed the deaf, they heard clearly. When He healed this man with an impediment of speech, he spoke plainly. When Jesus healed a blind man, He saw precisely. When He healed an impotent man, he picked up His bed and walked. You could not find fault with what Jesus did. It could be said of Him as was said of God the Father, “His work is perfect” (Deut 32:4).
Let no one set before the world a work purporting to be from God that is obviously flawed, inferior, and partial. Let no person attempt to cover their deficiencies by saying they are forgiven, and God loves them even though they have glaring imperfections. Let the people of our day also acknowledge that Jesus still is doing “all things well!” Such things as justification, peace with God, and purity of heart are effective, and observable as well.
HE MAKETH . . . The word “make” speaks of producing a condition, or causing something to come to pass. The man standing before them could never have become well with the passing of time. There was no human remedy that could have corrected his condition. Jesus MADE it happen, and CAUSED it to take place – and He did it “well.”
These Gospel records are designed to convince us that everything Jesus does is thorough and satisfactory for the believer – particularly those things relating to His “eternal salvation.” If you want what Jesus offers, He is the only One who can “MAKE” it happen. The power that accomplished His works is not a conglomeration of human power and Divine power. It is not an amalgamation of the ability of man and the ability of God. When it comes to this kind of work, we bring nothing to the table but our need. All of the power, every single bit of it, comes from Him. He is the One – the only One – who can MAKE it happen!