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Mark 7 · a question people ask

Why did Jesus want no one to know?

In the text

Mark tells it twice in this chapter. In the borders of Tyre and Sidon, "He entered into a house and didn’t want anyone to know it, but he couldn’t escape notice" (7:24). After the deaf man was healed, "He commanded them that they should tell no one, but the more he commanded them, so much the more widely they proclaimed it" (7:36). Mark gives no reason in either place. It has happened before (1:44, 5:43) and will again (8:30, 9:9). Christians read why he said it in more than one way, and chapter 8 sets out the main readings.

The verses

“From there he arose and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He entered into a house and didn’t want anyone to know it, but he couldn’t escape notice.”
Mark 7:24 · World English Bible
“He commanded them that they should tell no one, but the more he commanded them, so much the more widely they proclaimed it.”
Mark 7:36 · World English Bible
“and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.””
Mark 1:44 · World English Bible
“He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and commanded that something should be given to her to eat.”
Mark 5:43 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Mark 7

Mark 7: From within

In Mark 7, Jesus never says "the tradition of the elders"; he says "the tradition of men" (7:8), and sets it against Moses' words, which he calls "the commandment of God" and "the word of God" (7:9-13). And the one who answers him "Yes, Lord" is a Greek woman (7:26-28).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions