The Healing of the Deaf and Dumb Man (7:31-37).
Continuing His ministry in Gentile territory Jesus entered the region of Decapolis where He had exorcised the Gadarene ex-demoniac and there performed a remarkable healing. His method of healing by using physical methods in a public way, draws attention to the unusualness of this incident (especially in the light of the previous healing at a distance) and we must ask if there was any special reason for it. When we consider the opening of the blind eyes, healed in a similar way (Mark 8:22-26), which is placed just before the disciples' ‘eyes' were opened (Mark 8:27-31), and the cursing of the fig tree, which demonstrated the barrenness of Israel (Mark 11:12-14), we look for a specific message in what He did. And that message undoubtedly was that He had come so that through His ministry spiritually deaf ears would hear, and tongues would begin to speak because of His impartation of blessing. As Isaiah had said of the day when God's blessing would be revealed, ‘the eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped, then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing' (Isaiah 35:5-6). That day was now here, and on Gentile territory. The ears of Gentiles were about to be opened, and their mouths so as to give glory to Him.
Analysis.
a 7:31 a And again He went out from the borders of Tyre, and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the midst of the border of Decapolis, and they bring to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech and they beg Him to lay his hands on him (Mark 7:31-32).
b And he took him aside from the crowd privately (Mark 7:33 a).
c And He put His fingers into his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue, and looking up to heaven He sighed and says to him, “Ephphatha”, that is, “Be opened” (Mark 7:33-34).
c And his ears were opened and the bond of his tongue was loosed and he spoke plainly (Mark 7:35).
b And He charged them that they should tell no man, but the more He charged them the more they spread it widely (published it everywhere)' (Mark 7:36).
a And they were astonished above what can be measured, saying “He has done all things well. He makes even the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak” (Mark 7:37).
Note that in ‘a' they bring a deaf man with a speech impediment, and in the parallel He makes the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak. In ‘b' He took the man aside privately, and in the parallel He enjoins silence on all. In ‘c' He says, ‘Be opened', and in the parallel the man's ears are opened.