Luke notes that they were talking about Jesus’ departure (Greek-exodos) that He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem (Luke 9:30, 31). ‘If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us’ ” (Mark 9:22, NKJV).

When Jesus first called the disciples, He said He would make them

fishers of men (Mark 1:17)

When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mark 8:34, NKJV).

“Among the followers of our Lord today, as of old, how widespread

is this subtle, deceptive sin.

The Lord’s manner of healing the man is curious, particularly for modern readers. He puts His fingers in the man’s ears, spits, touches his tongue and sighs.

Divine power. Jesus takes the opportunity to warn the disciples against the “leaven” of the Pharisees and Herod (Mark 8:15), meaning their teachings (compare with Matt. 16:12).

He has shown that she who has been regarded as an outcast from Israel is no longer an alien, but a child in God's household. As a child it is her privilege to share in the Father's gifts.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 401.

First, it would be odd for Jesus suddenly to dismiss Mosaic instructions in Mark 7:14–19 when He had just defended Moses against tradition in Mark 7:6–13.

Inside Out. There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man (Mark 7:15, NKJV).

During the time between the testaments, the idea of washing hands in order to remain ritually pure was extended to common

people, even though these rules originally applied only to the priests in

the Old Testament (Exod. 30:17–21).