This chapter deals with the huge issue of Clean and Unclean. This was a big deal in the context of the 1st century. To even touch a Gentile a Jew would become unclean. Jesus is reversing this way of thinking and getting to the heart of what really makes us unclean.
Verse 3 we see Mark explaining a Jewish custom- proof that he is speaking to a Gentile audience...
Jesus points out that the commands of God are more important than traditions of men. Here we see Jesus point out Corban. Basically the Pharisees were taking whatever money they would have used to help out their elderly parents and declared that it was tithes and offering to God and therefore got out of helping their Parents.
Also in this passage we see Jesus making a distinction in what is really clean and unclean. Jesus points out that what comes out of us is really of more concern than what contaminates us...
Here Jesus deals with a Gentile woman who would be considered a dog in the eyes of Jewish men. But here Jesus allows for her faith to shine through using disequilibrium language.
All of Jesus ministry was spent healing and caring for the unclean! The Messiah to the Jews was steeped in uncleanliness!
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