The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 306

saying." It was an inspiration of faith. She had found the master-key for all time, ·and as she used it the door flew open, If we but "ask in faith, nothing wavering," all our petitions will be granted. 2. It is opened by Divine grace, We are not to suppose the request granted because the feeling of Christ was wrought upon. The yielding has only a superficial appearance of being due to constraint. In reality the delay was but interpolated that the faith of the woman might be developed in her own soul and manifested to the Jewish spectators; and so the final answer would be justified on every hand, and prove a blessing to others beside the recipient. The cure is already effected when she returns home. 3. It stands open/or ever to such petitioners. The ground of assent to her appeal having been "evidently set forth," she becomes a precedent for all believers to plead, She is the pioneer of all who, not being Jews according to the flesh, are nevertheless children of faithful Abraham according to the spirit. To all who thUB believe the invitation is given, "Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."-M. Vers. 31-31.-"Ephphatha." A rest, then a fresh journey(" again"). How long the interval we cannot determine. To free him from embarrassment, perhaps danger, and allow time for spiritual meditation. "Tyre and Sidon." The best manUBcripts have "through Sidon," which was north of Tyre. "Decapolis:" ten cities, cast and south- east of Sea of Galilee; named by the Romans B.o. 65. A favourite scene of our Lord's labours (cf. Matt. iv. 25). In Matt. xv. 29-31 a multitude of cases is mentioned. Here one is singled out as an illustration. L TllE OABE. Familiar and ordinary; comparatively helpless ; difficult to educate, mentally and spiritually. II. THE CUBE. 1. The manner of the great Physician. "They beseech him to lay his hand upon him "-a grand expression. (1) With respect to the people. He does not like the publicity, etc., and so he withdraws the poor man from the excited crowd. (2) With respe-0t to the patient. 'l'his step was full of consideration and delicacy. He sought to gain the confidence of the man. How deliberate and thoughtful was his mercy I 2. The means employed. (1) Of what kinds. Physical-touch, saliva. Devo- tional-a heavenward look, a heavenward sigh. Authoritative-a word, "Ephphatha l" Not used as a charm, but plainly intended to be otherwise understood; a word of the vernacular. (2) He spc,ke to the man through signs, as he could not understand word$. The means were only morally necessary; that the man might have some be.sis for confidence, intelligence, and faith. He ever desired to be understood. III. THAT WHICH IS SYMBOLIZED. The shut heart of the world, dead to spiritual things, Which is worse? Only the compassion of Christ can save ns.-M. Ver. 24 (first part).-The seclusion of Jesw. Our Lord, during his ministry, frequently sought retirement, and the text mentions one of these occasions. SeclUBion is some- times coveted by his disciples from improper motives, but these found no lodgment in the heart of the sinless One. We sometimes withdraw from active service for God because a feeling of indolence creeps over UB, but he constantly found it to be his meat and drink to do the will of hiD Father in heaven. We sometimes shrink back from suspicions and reproaches in a. spirit of cowardice, whereas in Christ there was no trace of the fear of man, that brings a. snare. Nor did he ever exhibit the slightest indication of the selfishness which leads us to shut ourselves up in the narrow circle of our petty personal interests. On the contrary, his whole life, the fact of his living here at all, the death which he could easily have averted, conclusively showed that he "came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a. ransom for many." We may at once and confidently set aside any explanation of Christ's withdrawal from a place or people which is drawn from some supposed imperfection in him who was absolutely sinless. At the se.me time, we mnst remember that we cannot e.lways discover with certainty the reasons for our Lord's actions, not only because these are not mentioned by the evangelists, who never try to explain or justify what may be open to misre- presentation, but also b~ause his nature transcended ours, and his acts had issues not only here but in a.n unseen world. So that whenever we suggest explanations of his conduct, we must say to ourselves, "Lo, these are parts of his ways_: but how little a portion is heard of him I " 304 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MAUK [oa, vn. 1-37.