Mark 7:35

7:31-37 Here is a cure of one that was deaf and dumb. Those who brought this poor man to Christ, besought him to observe the case, and put forth his power. Our Lord used more outward actions in the doing of this cure than usual. These were only signs of Christ's power to cure the man, to encourage his faith, and theirs that brought him. Though we find great variety in the cases and manner of relief of those who applied to Christ, yet all obtained the relief they sought. Thus it still is in the great concerns of our souls.

And straightway his ears were opened,.... It is in the Greek text, "his hearings"; the instruments of his hearing, and so rightly rendered, "his ears": the Persic version reads, "both his ears"; but the word "both" is unnecessary, since the word, "ears", takes in both. Such a power went along with the words of Christ, when he said, "be opened"; that immediately, as soon as ever the words were pronounced, the man's hearing came to him, and he heard as quick as ever he did before he lost it, or, as any other man: and the string of his tongue; which caused it to cleave to his jaws, or the roof of his mouth, and hindered him from speaking plainly, was loosed, and he spake plain; "easily", as the Syriac version renders it; without any difficulty to himself, and so as to be readily understood by others.

Thus those whose ears are opened, and whose tongues are loosed in a spiritual manner by Christ, speak plainly of what they have heard and seen, and felt; they can give a plain and clear account of the work of God upon their souls; how they have been convinced of the impurity of their nature, the corruptions of their hearts, and the exceeding sinfulness of sin, in heart, lip, and life; how they have seen Christ to be an all sufficient and suitable Saviour, and have been directed, and encouraged, to go to him, for healing, pardon, righteousness, and everlasting salvation; they can tell what promises have been applied to them, and what comforts they have enjoyed; how busy Satan has been with them; and what temptations of his they have been delivered out of, and by what means: in a word, they can speak plainly of the love of God to them; of the glories and excellencies of Christ; of their faith and hope in him, and love to him; and of the operations of the Spirit of God upon their hearts; and of the glories of the world to come, they are in the expectation of, so far as they are taught of God.

(35) His ears. —Literally, his hearing, or, as the word is in the plural, his organs of hearing. The string of his tongue.—Better, bond, that which confined and hampered his speech. (Comp. Luke 13:16.) There is no ground for thinking that St. Mark used the word in any anatomical sense, as the English word seems to suggest, for a “nerve” or “tendon,” as in the “eye-strings” of the original text of the “Rock of Ages.”

[Bible] 7:32. And they bring to him one deaf and dumb: and they besought him that he would lay his hand upon him. 7:33. And taking him from the multitude apart, he put his fingers into his ears: and spitting, he touched his tongue. 7:34. And looking up to heaven, he groaned and said to him: Ephpheta, which is, Be thou opened. 7:35. And immediately his ears were opened and the string of his tongue was loosed and he spoke right. 7:36. And he charged them that they should tell no man. But the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal did they publish it. 7:37. And so much the more did they wonder, saying: He hath done all things well. He hath made both the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak. Mark Chapter 8 Christ feeds four thousand. He gives sight to a blind man. He foretells his passion. 8:1. In those days again, when there was great multitude and they had nothing to eat; calling his disciples together, he saith to them: 8:2. I have compassion on the multitude, for behold they have now been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 8:3. And if I shall send them away fasting to their home, they will faint in the way: for some of them came from afar off. 8:4. And his disciples answered him: From whence can any one fill them here with bread in the wilderness? 8:5. And he asked them: How many loaves have ye? Who said: Seven. 8:6. And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground. And taking the seven loaves, giving thanks, he broke and gave to his disciples for to set before them. And they set them before the people. 8:7. And they had a few little fishes: and he blessed them and commanded them to be set before them. 8:8. And they did eat and were filled: and they took up that which was left of the fragments, seven baskets. 8:9. And they that had eaten were about four thousand. And he sent them away. 8:10. And immediately going up into a ship with his disciples, he came into the parts of Dalmanutha.