That is, concerning this saying of his, which appeared to them dark, for a parable sometimes in Scripture signifieth no more, Psalms 49:4; yet one would think that our Saviour's saying was plain enough. But custom is a great tyrant. The prejudice they had received from their superstitious teachers blinded them, and locked up their souls from receiving true and spiritual instructions. We see the same thing every day. What a heinous thing do the blind papists think it is to eat flesh in Lent, or on one of their fish days! Never considering by what law of God any men are restrained in such things. Our Saviour in the next words checks their blindness (see Mark 7:18-23).
Related Commentaries of Mark 7:17
Mark 7:17
17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.