關於馬可福音第七章 Did You Know…?

  Did You Know…?

1.      “Wash their hands in a special way”/Ceremonial washing (7:3): Washing of one’s hands with a handful of water, a formal practice required before eating. This was especially important after a trip to the marketplace, where a Jew would likely come in contact with an “unclean” Gentile or such things as money or utensils.

2.      Tradition of the elders (7:3): Oral teachings that commented on the law and interpreted it in detailed rules of conduct, often recording the diverse opinions of competing rabbis. The Pharisees viewed it as having authority almost equal to the Old Testament writings.

3.      Corban (7:11): A vow dedicating money or property to the temple. Technically, after such a vow, what’s dedicated could be used only for religious purposes. In practice, the money didn’t necessarily go to the temple, nor was it prevented from personal use. A person could use this practice to legally exclude others from his earnings, thus circumventing his responsibilities.

4.    Greek (7:26): The woman was not from Greece, but a Gentile by culture and religion. Matthew calls the woman a Canaanite, referring to her nationality. Jesus almost certainly spoke Greek to her.

5.     Syro-Phoenician (7:26): An inhabitant of Phoenicia, which in New Testament times was part of the Roman province of Cilia and Syria.

6.  Dogs (7:27): Wild dogs in Syria resemble jackals—nocturnal scavengers. In biblical times, and in many cultures, calling someone a dog was a great insult.

7.  “Ephphatha!” (7:34): An Aramaic expression, which might imply that the man was not a Gentile.