Mark 7:32Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He then left Tyre and Sidon and arrived in Galilee, where He restored a man who was both deaf and mute and tormented by an evil spirit.

We find ourselves spiritually deafened. Our transgressions have rendered us unable to perceive the gentle voice of God. Jesus, Son of God, may You open the ears of our spirits as described in Mark 7:35, enabling us to listen to Your words, the words that grant eternal life.

The Lord was unable to find solitude in that place, so He traveled with His disciples to the northeastern region of Galilee, specifically to the lake of Gennesaret. However, no matter where He went, He was recognized, and as soon as people identified Him, they brought their afflicted ones to Him, for He could not turn them away without offering healing. The throngs were eager to listen to His teachings, prompting Him to speak freely. Consequently, crowds gathered around Him wherever He went; all it took was for Him to relocate frequently and keep the discussions regarding His miraculous deeds alive. His healings were unique in nature. A man who was both deaf and mute was presented to Him.

In the Gospel of Mark (7:31), it is stated that after leaving the region of Tyre, Christ traveled through Sidon, which should be understood as a state rather than a city, indicating a northern route. Mark further identifies Jesus’ arrival at a location near the Sea of Galilee, specifically on its eastern shore in the territory of Decapolis. From Sidon, Christ made His way towards the Lebanon and Hermon mountains before crossing to the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee.

Jesus journeyed from Phoenicia, traversing the area of the Ten Cities, to the shores of the Lake of Galilee. The Evangelist Mark recounts that during this journey, in an unspecified location, a deaf man who was also unable to speak was brought to Jesus. The crowd requested that He place His hand upon him to bring healing.

Despite the partially pagan culture of the region, the renown of the great Teacher drew a large crowd of Jews, particularly from towns and villages populated by mixed communities of Gentiles. Various individuals suffering from ailments were brought before Him, and in His boundless compassion, He offered His divine assistance to those in distress, even amidst their weariness and longing for respite. Among the afflicted, a deaf man was presented to Him, who struggled to articulate coherent words (Mark 7:32-37). Christ did not deny him aid, although He chose to carry out His healing in a unique manner for reasons known only to Him.

The Evangelist does not indicate that this ailment stems from an unclean spirit or that the afflicted individual is possessed by a demon. Consequently, both the Lord and the Evangelists make a clear distinction between ordinary physical illnesses and those caused by the direct influence of an unclean spirit on a person. To “lay hands on him” signifies, in essence, the act of restoring health through the practice of laying on of hands.

Jesus Christ departed from Tyre and Sidon, traveling to the Sea of Galilee, entering the region of Tithegrad. There, individuals brought to Him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, afflicted by a condition beyond human remedies. It was likely that they had heard of Jesus Christ's numerous healings performed through the laying on of hands. However, in this instance, He chose a unique approach to heal him. To divert the people’s idle curiosity, He took the afflicted man away from the crowd; then, in a bid to prepare him for the miracle and inspire faith, He placed His fingers in the man’s ears and, after spitting, touched his tongue.