Mark 7:17

And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.

And {G2532} when {G3753} he was entered {G1525} into {G1519} the house {G3624} from {G575} the people {G3793}, his {G846} disciples {G3101} asked {G1905} him {G846} concerning {G4012} the parable {G3850}.

When he had left the people and entered the house, his talmidim asked him about the parable.

After Jesus had left the crowd and gone into the house, His disciples inquired about the parable.

And when he was entered into the house from the multitude, his disciples asked of him the parable.

Mark 7:17 (KJV) describes a pivotal moment where Jesus transitions from public teaching to private instruction with His disciples. After addressing the crowds with a challenging parable about spiritual defilement, Jesus retreats indoors, and His followers seek deeper understanding of His words.

Context

This verse follows Jesus' significant public confrontation with the Pharisees and scribes regarding their traditions concerning ceremonial washing and clean hands (see Mark 7:1-5). Jesus accused them of prioritizing human traditions over God's commandments, specifically citing their practice of Corban (Mark 7:11). Immediately before Mark 7:17, Jesus had called the crowd and taught them a profound truth: "There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man." This enigmatic statement, which the disciples now seek to understand, challenged the very foundation of the Jewish purity laws as interpreted by the religious leaders.

Key Themes

  • Disciples' Need for Understanding: The disciples, despite being close to Jesus, often struggled to grasp the full spiritual implications of His teachings. Their question highlights their genuine desire to learn and Jesus' willingness to provide private instruction.
  • Jesus as Teacher: This verse underscores Jesus' role as a patient and thorough teacher, not only to the masses but especially to His inner circle. He often explained parables and difficult concepts more fully to His disciples when they were alone, as seen in Mark 4:10.
  • Transition from Public to Private Teaching: The shift from the bustling crowd to the intimate setting of "the house" signifies a change in the depth and nature of the teaching. Publicly, Jesus often spoke in parables to both reveal and conceal truth, but privately He offered clearer explanations to those committed to following Him.

Linguistic Insights

The term "parable" here, from the Greek parabolē (παραβολή), doesn't necessarily refer to a long narrative story, but rather a profound, often enigmatic, saying or an illustrative teaching that requires interpretation. In this context, it refers to Jesus' statement in Mark 7:15, which was a radical redefinition of purity and defilement.

Practical Application

Mark 7:17 encourages believers to actively seek a deeper understanding of God's Word. Just as the disciples did not settle for surface-level comprehension, we are invited to ask questions, study, and pray for spiritual insight. It reminds us that true spiritual purity comes not from external rituals or traditions, but from the condition of the heart and the words and actions that flow from within. When we encounter challenging scriptures, we should, like the disciples, turn to the Lord for clarification, trusting that He desires to reveal truth to those who earnestly seek it.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 15:15

    Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.

  • Matthew 13:36

    Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

  • Mark 9:28

    And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

  • Mark 4:34

    But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

  • Matthew 13:10

    And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

  • Mark 4:10

    And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

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