31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. 36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; 37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak. (Mark 7:31-37 KJV)
Jesus Heals a Deaf Man
Our Lord Jesus rarely stayed long in one place, for he knew where his work lay and followed its changes. When he had cured the Canaanite woman’s daughter, he had completed his mission there and soon left, returning to the Sea of Galilee, where he usually stayed. Yet he didn’t go directly there but traveled through the region of Decapolis, which lay mostly east of the Jordan. Such long walks Jesus took as he went about doing good.
Here we have the story of a healing that Christ performed, not recorded by any other evangelist: a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment (Mark 7:32).
His case was serious. Some believe he was born deaf, and so naturally dumb; others think he became deaf through illness or injury. He had difficulty speaking—either he was completely mute or could barely speak understandably. He was unable to join in conversation, missing both its joys and its benefits. He could neither hear others nor express his own thoughts. Let us take this as an opportunity to thank God for the gifts of hearing, especially to hear God’s word, and speaking, especially to praise God. Let us also show compassion and kindness to those who are deaf or mute. The people who brought this man to Jesus begged him to lay his hand on him, as the prophets did when blessing someone in the name of the Lord. They didn’t specifically ask for healing, but that Jesus would take notice of his condition and act according to his will and power.
His healing was solemn, and some of its features were unique.
Jesus took him aside from the crowd (Mark 7:33). Usually, Jesus healed publicly to allow close examination of his miracles, but this time he did it privately, showing that he didn’t seek glory and teaching us to avoid anything that resembles showing off. We should learn from Christ to be humble and do good even when no one else sees, except the One who sees all.
Jesus used more symbolic actions than usual.
He put his fingers in the man’s ears, as if to clear them. He spat and touched the man’s tongue, as if to moisten and loosen it. These actions had no natural power to cure, but were signs of Christ’s divine power and intended to encourage faith in the man and those who brought him. It was Jesus’ own fingers and spit—because he alone has the power to heal.
He looked up to heaven, giving credit to his Father for the miracle. Jesus sought his Father’s glory, obeyed his will, and, as Mediator, acted in dependence on and reverence toward him. By this, he showed that the power came from above, and that it was by God’s hand that he performed the miracle—for as Proverbs says, “The hearing ear and the seeing eye—the Lord has made them both” (Proverbs 20:12). Jesus also pointed the man, who could see though not hear, to look to heaven for help. Just as Moses was directed with his slow tongue to remember that God made the mouth, ears, and eyes (Exodus 4:11).
Jesus sighed—not out of difficulty in working the miracle or receiving power from the Father—but out of compassion for human suffering and sympathy with those in affliction. Regarding this man, he sighed not because he was reluctant to heal him, but because of the temptations and sins, especially sins of speech, that he might face once his speech was restored. It would be better to remain mute than to speak without grace. As the psalmist says, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue” (Psalm 39:1).
Then Jesus said, “Ephphatha”—that is, “Be opened” (Mark 7:34). This wasn’t a spell or incantation like those used by people with familiar spirits (Isaiah 8:19), but a command with divine authority and power. “Be opened” referred to both ears and tongue: “Let the ears hear and the tongue speak freely.” The result followed immediately (Mark 7:35): his ears were opened, the bond of his tongue was loosened, and he spoke clearly. And how blessed he was to have Jesus nearby to speak with as soon as he could hear and speak!
This miracle confirmed that Jesus was the Messiah, as foretold: “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped… the mute tongue will shout for joy” (Isaiah 35:5-6).
It also illustrated what Christ’s gospel does in the hearts of people. The great command and grace of the gospel is “Be opened.” As Grotius observed, the Spirit of Christ removes the internal obstacles in the soul just as his word removes physical barriers. He opens hearts, as he did Lydia’s (Acts 16:14), and thus opens ears to God’s word and mouths to prayer and praise.
Jesus told them to keep it quiet, but the news spread widely.
It was out of humility that Jesus instructed them not to tell anyone (Mark 7:36). While many boast about their own goodness or want others to praise them, Jesus, who had no such temptation, gave us an example of humility and self-restraint. We should enjoy doing good, not being praised for it.
Still, the people’s enthusiasm led them to spread the news, even though Jesus had told them not to. Though this was not exactly disobedience, it was still unwise (Mark 7:36). Yet their amazement was overwhelming, and the common response was, “He has done all things well” (Mark 7:37). Though some accused Jesus of wrongdoing, here even his skeptics had to admit that he had done not only good—but done it well. His actions were humble, gracious, devout, and free of charge, which made them even more remarkable. “He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak”—and that is surely good. It was good for the man, good for his loved ones who had long carried that burden, and a testimony that condemns anyone who speaks against Jesus.