7:20-23
What demonstrates that we have a problem is what comes out of us, what comes out of our hearts. These are evil thoughts and evil actions. Jesus then gives a sin list, or a vice list. There are one or two of these in the New Testament. The first few items in the list mirror the ten commandments, and then the second half expands on it. Man’s fundamental problem is that we are sinners. The religious types sought to remedy this problem by focusing on outward ritual. The Law did have a number of ritual requirements, but the religious leaders greatly expanded on them, and gave them an importance way beyond what the Law gave them. We have a tendency to do this because it puts us in control, it pretends that we are able to make ourselves good. The problem of sin is one that we cannot deal with ourselves, only the blood of Jesus can make us clean.
7:24
Jesus now goes into a non-Jewish area, though there would be some Jews there. He went to the “vicinity of Tyre”. Evidently some people from this area had gone to see Jesus in Galilee, for presumably He was invited, or at least welcome, in the house he went to. As often happened, He was hoping to find some peace and quiet, but failed to do so.
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