Mark 7:30 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

NIV: She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

NASB: And after going back to her home, she found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

CSB: When she went back to her home, she found her child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.

NLT: And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone.

KJV: And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

NKJV: And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.

This passage is of great importance to the Gentile readers of Mark's Gospel as it reveals Jesus' acceptance of both Jews and Gentiles who come to Him by faith. Though His earthly mission largely focused on the Jewish people, Jesus was and is available to all who will come to Him. Further, His acceptance of a woman kneeling before Him, asking for help, again shows Jesus as a person who cares about the needs of women and responds to their concerns. In a time when women's rights are often neglected, Jesus expresses much compassion and respect to the women who come to Him.

At the time of the writing of this commentary, western culture is reeling at the fusillade of revelations of abuse and violence against women and ethnic minorities. No matter how many of these accusations have ties to a church, a denomination, or a "Christian" organization, it's essential to understand that this was never Jesus' heart. He condemns religious leaders who take advantage of their charges (Ezekiel 34:1–10) and welcomes anyone with faith—even a woman from a nation antagonistic toward Jews.

Paul said that in the church, there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, male or female (Galatians 3:28). Jesus here shows that there is no distinction between Jew and Canaanite. And today, there is no distinction between white, black, Hispanic, Asian, or any other earthly ethnicity.

As Jesus prayed in John 17:20–21: "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

Mark 7:24–30 follows a lengthy dissertation on what makes a person clean or unclean. Jesus takes His disciples to Gentile territory. There, He acts in strict contrast to the elders' traditions by interacting closely with Gentiles. First, He heals the daughter of a Canaanite woman. Mark's account of the faith of the Canaanite woman is relatively short. Matthew 15:21–28, written specifically to Jews, is fleshed out to better drive home the point. Through the end of chapter 7 and into chapter 8, He heals a deaf man and several of his neighbors (Matthew 15:24–30). Finally, He decisively dismisses any concern about clean or unclean food by providing a meal for four thousand, many of whom are undoubtedly Gentiles.

Jesus counters another traditional error from the scribes and Pharisees, explaining that food in and of itself does not make a person unclean. Rather, it is the intent of the heart that matters to God. He specifically condemns traditions which effectively undo the original intent of God's commands. Jesus heals the daughter of a persistent Gentile woman, and a man suffering from deafness and a speech impediment.

After showing His authority over demons, death, and physics, Jesus asserts His superiority over manmade traditions. For generations, Jewish religious leaders have added to the Law in an attempt to keep the nation holy. Such traditions, however, serve to make the leaders look good but unnecessarily burden the people. Jesus argues in word and action that any law that dismisses love is either misinterpreted or manmade.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.