7:1-23 Clean and Unclean
7:1-16 Pharisees disputed with Jesus about ceremonial washing before eating. Jesus stated they had made tradition higher than God's commands. They also promoted giving rather than passing on an inheritance. Jesus scolded them for having an appearance of religion and said that which comes from the heart is what defiles a man, not what or how they eat.
7:17-23 Jesus warns against external displays and gives 13 examples of sin based on the law.
7:24-37 Two unusual miracles.A Gentile woman asks Jesus to cast a demon out of her daughter. HE warns He has come to help Israel first, but she insists He help her. Even dogs eat from the crumbs under the master's table. Her faith won the day.A deaf and dumb man is healed. Jesus spat and touched his tongue, and the man was made well.
8:1-10 Feeding 4,000 Jesus asks His Disciples to give Him what bread and fish they have, and He blesses it in Prayer. All were filled and they took up 7 baskets left over.
8:11-21 Leaven of the Pharisees They ask for a sign from Heaven. No sign but Jesus warns about the Leaven of The Pharisees and Herod. The Disciples wonder if Jesus is upset with them about not taking bread with them.
8:22-26 Blind eyes are opened. Jesus spit on this man's eyes and they were opened.
8:27-35 Jesus' Mission Peter confesses Jesus is The Messiah. Jesus states He has come to give His life but Peter rebukes Jesus. Jesus then rebukes Peter, Get behind Me Satan - an opposer.... Those who follow Me must deny self and take up the stake.
8:35-9:1 Why take up the stake?Whoever looses his life for My sake shall save it. What profit is it to lose your soul? So not be ashamed of Me or My Words.
9:2-13 The Transfiguration Jesus said some would see The Power of The Kingdom. After 6 days, Peter, James and John went up on a high mountain. There Jesus became glistening white along with Elias and Moses. After 6 days, might show a lapse of 6,000 years before Jesus will reappear with The Saints just before The Wedding Supper and Armageddon. These might represent The Two Witnesses per Rev 11. Anyhow, as quickly as they appear they fade into the background due to the glory of Jesus. The Father states, This is My Beloved Son, hear Him.
9:14-29 Jesus casts out a problem demon A father brings his son to Jesus after the disciples could not cast it out. Jesus casts the demon out and chides His Disciples about their lack of faith. Then the Father said, Lord I believe, help Thou my unbelief.
9:30-50 Jesus heads toward Jerusalem Jesus reminds the Disciples of His upcoming death. They dispute about who should be greatest. Jesus asked them about this but they remained silent. If any desires greatness, he must be last and servant of all. HE took a child and sat with him and said whoever receives little children, receives Me. Give even a cup of cold water and believe in Me without stumbling. If your hand makes you sin, cut it off. (Stop what you are doing and give no life to sin, that leads to death and hell.) Hell is like a fire that does not go out. As salt and fire purify, so does The Word and The Spirit both lead to purity. So yield not to sin but repent and turn to righteousness.