And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He has done all things well: he makes both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
All Commentaries on Mark 7:37 Go To Mark 7
Theophylact of Ochrid
AD 1107
The soul of each of us also, when he falls into sin, becomes a woman; and this soul has a daughter who is sick, that is, evil actions; this daughter again has a devil, for evil actions arise from devils. Again, sinners are called dogs, being filled with uncleanness. For which reason we are not worthy to receive the bread of God, orto be made partakers of the immaculate mysteries of God; if however in humility, knowing ourselves to be dogs, we confess our sins, then the daughter, that is, our evil life, shall be healed.
The Lord did not wish to stayin the parts of the Gentiles, lest He should give the Jews occasion to say, that they esteemed Him a transgressor of the law, because He held communion with the Gentiles, and therefore He immediately returns. Wherefore it is said, “And again departing from the coasts of Tyre, He came through Sidon, to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the borders of Decapolis.”.
That He might show that allthe members of His sacred body are divine and holy, even the spittle which loosed the string of the tongue. For the spittle is only the superflousmoisture of the body, but in the Lord, all things are divine. It goes on, “And looking up to heaven, He groaned, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.”.
By this we are taught, whenwe confer benefits on any, by no means to seek for applause and praise; but when we have received benefits, to proclaim and praise our benefactors, even though they be unwilling.
