February 4
Mark 7: Of Outsiders and Epstein
Genesis 37; Mark 7; Job 3; Romans 7
Mark 7 begins with those who are “in,” the Pharisees and scribes (the religious leaders of the day). They criticize Jesus’ disciples for not following their traditions. Jesus responds by condemning their traditions, which
“13 …[make] void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.” (13)
Tradition itself is neutral. Every family has very benign holiday traditions. Moreover, Paul in several places commands us to follow closely the traditions he handed down (2 Thessalonians 2:15). But that’s because Paul’s traditions upheld the commands of God, rather than undermining them. What makes a tradition good or bad is whether it aligns with the Word - or not.
For whether we wash our hands or do this or that tradition does not defile. What defiles a person is what comes out of his heart (15). As I write this the United States government is releasing the “Epstein Files” from businessman, blackmailer and child abuser Jeffrey Epstein. In these files he speaks glowingly of being a Jew. The problem is that he was defiled - verses 21-23 are a pitch-perfect summary of his life. He proudly held to his “insider” status as a Jew but was just as much a child of the devil as Hitler.
Mark leaves us thinking about this and then - as is his habit - jumps quickly to another person Jesus encounters as he travels through another district. And we are meant to compare and contrast with the “insiders” above.
She is a Syrophoenician woman. The Syrophoenicians were mixed-race descendants of seafaring peoples - outsiders. And this one is inconvenient. Jesus wants to be alone, but she’s not having it. She (probably) interrupts dinner and asks him to cast out a demon from her daughter (26-27). She begs for his help.
Jesus’ reply is rather shocking: “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” Now, it was true that Jesus’ first goal was to go to the Jews first. Paul would follow this plan later. But why call her a “dog”? It seems Jesus is playfully testing this plucky woman by calling her the name the Jews would have used. And it perfectly fit the dinner table moment.
But the woman’s reply reminds us that God tells the best stories: “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Remarkably, this is the only time in Mark’s gospel that Jesus is addressed as “Lord.” What comes out of her heart is faith in the goodness and generosity of God. For this, Jesus rewards her. For she shares the faith of Abraham. Reflect on Romans 2:28-29.