The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 315

table something goes to them. Give me that-" the crumbs that fall." Give me" tha children's crumbl;" what they need not, what they despise, what I may blr.ve without robbine; them. IV. It is enough; the patient, triumphant faith at length finds its BEWABD. It shall be written for future generations of needy ones to learn how to succeed in presence of difficulties and hindrances and impossibilities. The Lord's honour is upon thee. " Great is thy faith." And more, thy suit is gained, thy word is mighty. For "this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter." It was even so. Let every suffering one, even though outcast from the holy, happy community, and every one within that community, learn from this little story that if men have faith as a grain ()f mustard seed, it shall be even as they will And let every timid, unbelieving child bend lowly before this" dog," and learn the power of living, hopeful, resolute faith.-G. Vers. 31-37.-TM heal,i11g of the deaf and dumb man. Another case of healing, the record of which is peculiar to St. Mark, throws into prominenee both the pitifulness of men and the power of the Lord. It is that of one unable to speak for himself, and unable to hear of the many wonderful works which are being done around. "They bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech ; and they beseech him to lay his hand upon him." Ah, they have gained faith in the power of that hand. Jesus" took him aside from the multitude privately." Thus the man, at least, would l..""Iiow the work was the work of Jesus only. Then, for reasons that are not assigned, possibly as signs to him who could not bear, he "put bis fingers into hie ears, . . . spat, . . . touched his tongue," and looked "up to heaven," and "sighed " and epake, and "saith "-saith "to him" the first word he should hear, "Ephphatha I" Then " his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain." Thus is presented to us a typical ezample of the redemption of the disorganized life. L One of the disorganizing effects of evil is that it closes the ear. It stops the avenues to the soul by which the word of truth and love may enter. The wicked man lS deaf to the appeals of righteousness. Its gentle, winning tones fall unheeded on the inattentive, unmoved heart, which is as insensible to them as is a stone. How great is the injury thus inflicted I The man is shut out from the elevating, ennobling, the satisfying, sanctifying influence of truth. The words which minister grace to the hearers can convey none of their treasures to his heart ; the way is not open. The human or Divine voice, so rich in its ministries to the ignorant, to the inquirer, to the hungry, is powerless here. The corrections of wisdom, the lofty motive, the noble aim, the calming, comforting voice of truth, guiding and blessing wherever it is heard, has no power here. All is lost. Not more is he to be pitied who, by physical infirmity, hears not the voice of friends, the sougs of birds, the harmonies of sweet sounds. Sin robs the life of its truest, its highest enrichment. Christ's greatest ministries to the world were by his lips. Though the words were of earth, they were vessels holding heavenly treasure. But the deaf hear them not. So truly is a state of sinfulness typified in dp,e.fness. IL But sin equally impedes the free and profitable service of the life of its victim. It closes his mouth. The mouth, which may be a fountain of wisdom, if unsealed. The life, which might be a spring of blessing to many, is as a dry and parched land, or as a well having no water. That beneficent ordination by which one life-even every life- is designed to be a source of blessing to every other, is, by evil, frustrated; and it becomes, instead, a cause of injury. IIL It is here Christ appears to bless the race by opening the eyes of the blind, by unstopping the ea.ni of the deaf, by loosing the tongue of the dumb. His holy work stands over a"'ainst the evil of sin. He UllBtops the deaf ear. Awaking the attention of the sleeper: he gives to the receiving soul the words of eternal life. His heavenly teaching renews, exalts, ennobles. The ignorant one becomes wise in his school. His truth raises the beggar from the dunghill. Righteousness puts the soul en rapport with all that is gcod., and heautiful, and wise, and holy. It makes a man to be at one with all the kingdom of God, with all truth and all life. IV. But the redeemed life becomes a source of blessing to others-a fountain of living v.aters. The UllSealed lips speak forth the heavenly wisdom. The psalm of praise, the song of thanksgiving, the word of truth, of peace, and of blessing, and the activities of ou, vu.1-37.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. 313