Mark 7:1-14 and Waldenström’s Commentary
Dr. Paul Peter Waldenström based his comments on a Greek New Testament text which he translated into Swedish. Tommy Carlson has translated both the Biblical text and Waldenström’s comments from the Swedish text, 2nd Edition, 1902. — Ed.
Verse 22 — And1 they came to Bethsaida.2 And they brought to Him a blind man and begged Him that He should touch him.
1. This is only recorded in Mark.
2. This is Bethsaida Julias, which is located on the north shore on the Sea of Galilee, east of Jordan. The Lord went through this town on His way north. His destination was Caesarea Philippi, opposite Dalmanuta on the south-east coast of the Sea of Galilee.
Verse 23 — and He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village, then He put spittle on his eyes and laid His hands on him1 and asked him if he could see anything.
1. Obviously his eyes as can be seen in verse 25.
Verse 24 — And he looked up and said: “I can see people, because I see1 them walking as if (they were) trees.2
1. This is the same expression as in chapter 4:12.
2. As without form. Yet he saw the formless objects moving, he concluded it was people whom he saw.
Verse 25 — Then He laid His hands on his eyes again and he blinked quickly1 and he was restored2 and saw everything clearly.3
1. Verbatim: “a sharp stare” He cast a gaze on the objects. Nobody can know why the Lord did not heal him at once.
2. This word means that he had seen once, but lost his sight.
3. According to another reading: he saw at a long distance.
Verse 26 — And He sent him home, saying: “Do not go into the village.”1
1. Bethsaida. It was called a village even though it was a city. It had only been a short time since it had been upgraded from a village to the rank of city so it was still called a village. It was the Tetrarch Phillipi who made Bethsaida Julia a city. He called the city Julia, to honor Caesar Augustus’ daughter. The blind man was not from Bethsaida, but rather from another place, from where he had been taken to seek the Lord. The Lord led him out of the city to cure him. When He had cured him, He told him not to go back into the city, but to go directly home.
Verse 27 — And1 Jesus left2 with His disciples to the villages by Caesarea Philippi,3 and on the way He asked His disciples :” Who do the people say that I am?”
1. To verses 27-30 see Matt 16:13-20. The same thing is mentioned in Luke 9:18-21.
2. From Bethsaida.
3. Or the villages that belonged to the area of Caesarea Philippi.
Verse 28 — And they said to Him: “John the Baptist, and others Elijah, but others: one of the prophets.”
Verse 29 — And He asked them: “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him: “You are the Christ.”1
1. Mark does not record the Lord’s grand answer to Peter (Matthew 16:17-19). It is Peter, himself, who has told the story to Mark (see the introduction) and that explains it. Mark was disciple to the Apostles. He had been converted through Peter, who called him his son (1 Peter 5:13) and went into the service of Paul and Barnabus when they began their missionary journeys.
Verse 30 — And He gave them strict orders that no one should say anything about Him.1
1. That He was the Christ.