Mark 7:17

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 7:17 captures a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, illustrating His transition from public proclamation to private, in-depth instruction for His disciples. After challenging the prevailing religious traditions concerning purity with a profound, enigmatic teaching to the crowds, Jesus withdraws into a house. There, His disciples, recognizing the depth and counter-cultural nature of His recent words, approach Him to seek a clearer understanding of the "parable" He had just spoken. This intimate setting underscores Jesus' patient commitment to nurturing His followers' spiritual comprehension.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Mark 7:17 serves as a crucial bridge within the Gospel of Mark. It immediately follows Jesus' public discourse (Mark 7:14-16) where He directly addresses the crowds with a radical redefinition of defilement: "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" [Mark 7:15](/mark/7-15 "Mark 7:15 - What Truly Defiles"). This statement, delivered after a sharp confrontation with the Pharisees and scribes over their traditions of ceremonial washing and the Corban vow [Mark 7:1-13](/mark/7-1-13 "Mark 7:1-13 - Jesus Confronts Pharisaic Traditions"), was profoundly challenging to the established religious order. The disciples' subsequent questioning in the privacy of the house sets the stage for Jesus' detailed explanation of the true source of defilement, which is recorded in [Mark 7:18-23](/mark/7-18-23 "Mark 7:18-23 - Jesus Explains True Defilement").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Jewish society, particularly among the Pharisees, placed immense emphasis on ritual purity laws, many of which were oral traditions passed down through generations rather than direct Mosaic commands. These traditions dictated everything from handwashing before meals to the types of food consumed and interactions with "unclean" people or objects. The concept of "defilement" was primarily understood as an external state, requiring ritual cleansing. Jesus' teaching in [Mark 7:15](/mark/7-15 "Mark 7:15 - What Truly Defiles") directly challenged this deeply ingrained cultural and religious framework, shifting the focus from external observances to the internal condition of the heart. The "house" setting for this private instruction was typical for Jesus, allowing for more intimate and detailed teaching away from the public clamor and scrutiny.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Mark's Gospel. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **True Purity vs. External Ritualism**, a central concern of [Mark 7](/mark/7 "Mark 7 - Purity and Tradition"). Jesus consistently emphasizes that God is concerned with the heart's condition over outward adherence to human traditions. Secondly, it underscores the **Disciples' Need for Deeper Understanding**. Despite being close to Jesus, the disciples often struggled to grasp the spiritual implications of His teachings, necessitating private explanations, as seen in other instances like the parable of the sower [Mark 4:10-12](/mark/4-10-12 "Mark 4:10-12 - The Purpose of Parables"). Finally, it exemplifies **Jesus as the Master Teacher**, who not only proclaims truth publicly but also patiently mentors His inner circle, providing clarity and deeper insight into the mysteries of the Kingdom of God.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **entered (Greek, _eisérchomai'_):** This verb (G1525) signifies a deliberate movement "into" a place. In this context, it emphasizes Jesus' intentional withdrawal from the public sphere ("from the people") into a private setting ("into the house"), signaling a shift in the nature of His teaching from general proclamation to specific, intimate instruction for His disciples.
* **disciples (Greek, _mathētḗs'_):** The term (G3101) literally means "a learner" or "pupil." Its use here highlights the identity of those who approached Jesus: not the general crowd, but His committed followers who recognized their need for further education and sought to deepen their comprehension of His challenging teachings.
* **parable (Greek, _parabolḗ'_):** While often referring to a narrative story, _parabolḗ_ (G3850) in this instance denotes a profound, often enigmatic, saying or an illustrative teaching that requires interpretation. Here, it specifically refers to Jesus' radical statement in [Mark 7:15](/mark/7-15 "Mark 7:15 - What Truly Defiles") about what truly defiles a person, which was not a story but a concise, challenging aphorism.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when he was entered into the house":** This phrase marks a significant geographical and contextual shift. Jesus moves from the bustling public space where He had confronted the Pharisees and taught the crowds, into the quiet, private setting of a house. This transition is crucial for the ensuing private instruction.
* **"from the people":** This emphasizes Jesus' separation from the general multitude. His public teaching was often broad and sometimes veiled in parables, but His private instruction to His disciples was typically more direct, detailed, and intended for those committed to understanding the deeper truths of the Kingdom.
* **"his disciples asked him concerning the parable.":** This clause reveals the disciples' initiative and their genuine desire for clarity. The "parable" refers to Jesus' recent, counter-cultural teaching on defilement in [Mark 7:15](/mark/7-15 "Mark 7:15 - What Truly Defiles"). Their question indicates their recognition that this teaching was profound, perhaps confusing, and certainly required further explanation to reconcile with their existing understanding of purity laws.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Transition** as a key literary device, marking a clear shift in setting from the public outdoor space to the private interior of a house. This physical movement underscores a corresponding shift in the nature of Jesus' teaching, from addressing the general populace to providing more intimate and explicit instruction to His disciples. There is also an element of **Foreshadowing**, as the disciples' question directly sets up Jesus' detailed explanation of true defilement in the subsequent verses [Mark 7:18-23](/mark/7-18-23 "Mark 7:18-23 - Jesus Explains True Defilement"), signaling to the reader that a deeper theological truth is about to be unveiled. Furthermore, an implicit **Contrast** is drawn between the public teaching, which was often parabolic and left some truths veiled, and the private instruction, which was characterized by clarity and direct explanation for those committed to Him.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 7:17 highlights the profound theological shift Jesus inaugurated, moving the focus of purity and righteousness from external ritualistic adherence to the internal condition of the heart. This redefinition challenges the very foundation of legalism and human traditions, asserting that true defilement originates from within a person's thoughts, intentions, and desires, not from external contact or dietary restrictions. This principle is foundational to understanding the New Covenant, where God's law is written on the heart, and true worship is in spirit and truth, transcending mere outward observance. The disciples' need for clarification underscores the radical nature of this teaching, which inverted centuries of religious understanding, paving the way for a deeper, more spiritual comprehension of God's will.

* [Matthew 15:15-20](/matthew/15-15-20 "Matthew 15:15-20 - What Defiles a Person")
* [Romans 14:17](/romans/14-17 "Romans 14:17 - The Kingdom of God")
* [Hebrews 10:1-4](/hebrews/10-1-4 "Hebrews 10:1-4 - The Inadequacy of Old Covenant Sacrifices")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 7:17 serves as a profound invitation for believers today to emulate the disciples' earnest desire for deeper understanding of God's Word. Just as they did not settle for a surface-level grasp of Jesus' challenging "parable," we are called to actively seek clarity, ask questions, and diligently study the Scriptures, trusting that the Lord desires to reveal truth to those who earnestly pursue it. This passage reminds us that true spiritual purity is not achieved through external rituals, adherence to human traditions, or outward appearances, but springs from the transformed condition of the heart. It challenges us to examine our own lives: are we more concerned with what others see, or with the genuine state of our inner being? When we encounter difficult or counter-intuitive biblical truths, our response should be one of humble inquiry, turning to Christ, the ultimate Teacher, for illumination, knowing that He delights in revealing His wisdom to those who sincerely seek Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I typically respond when I encounter a challenging or confusing passage in the Bible? Do I seek deeper understanding like the disciples?**
* **In what ways might I be prioritizing external appearances or human traditions over the internal purity of my heart?**
* **What "parables" or difficult truths has Jesus spoken that I need to seek further clarity on in my own life?**

### FAQ
**What "parable" are the disciples asking about in Mark 7:17?**

Answer: The "parable" the disciples are asking about is not a long narrative story in the typical sense, but rather the profound and enigmatic statement Jesus had just made publicly to the crowds in [Mark 7:15](/mark/7-15 "Mark 7:15 - What Truly Defiles"): "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 statement was a radical redefinition of purity and defilement, directly challenging the deeply ingrained Jewish purity laws and traditions that focused on external rituals and dietary restrictions. The disciples, likely confused by how this teaching squared with their understanding of the Mosaic Law and traditional practices, sought a private explanation from Jesus, which He provides in [Mark 7:18-23](/mark/7-18-23 "Mark 7:18-23 - Jesus Explains True Defilement").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 7:17, with the disciples' inquiry into the nature of true defilement, profoundly points to Christ as the ultimate solution and fulfillment of the very purity He teaches. Jesus' redefinition of defilement from external to internal underscores the universal human condition of a defiled heart, a problem no ritual or tradition could ever truly cleanse. It is precisely this internal defilement that Christ came to address. He is the one who offers not just external cleansing, but a radical internal transformation, giving a new heart and a new spirit [Ezekiel 36:26-27](/ezekiel/36-26-27 "Ezekiel 36:26-27 - A New Heart and Spirit"). Through His perfect life, atoning death, and resurrection, Jesus fulfills the law's righteous requirements that we could not meet [Romans 8:3-4](/romans/8-3-4 "Romans 8:3-4 - The Law and the Spirit"), making it possible for those who believe in Him to be truly pure in heart, thus enabling them to see God [Matthew 5:8](/matthew/5-8 "Matthew 5:8 - The Beatitudes: Pure in Heart"). His blood cleanses not just the body, but the conscience from dead works to serve the living God [Hebrews 9:13-14](/hebrews/9-13-14 "Hebrews 9:13-14 - The Superiority of Christ's Sacrifice"), inaugurating a New Covenant where God's law is written on the heart [Jeremiah 31:33](/jeremiah/31-33 "Jeremiah 31:33 - The New Covenant"). Thus, the "parable" of inner defilement ultimately leads us to the Lamb of God, who alone takes away the sin of the world and offers the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit [John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"); [Titus 3:5](/titus/3-5 "Titus 3:5 - The Washing of Regeneration").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.