The Word to the World
This event occurs in the wider context of the question concerning ceremonial uncleanness. As we learned previously, the Pharisees had entrenched a culture in which tradition trumped truth. Though they had the word of God, the word of man ruled their lives (vv. 8–13). What
John Calvin writes of our text: “Faith will obtain anything from the Lord; for so highly does he value it, that he is always prepared to comply with our wishes, so far as it may be for our advantage.” This account, as recorded by Mark,
“Sheep without a shepherd” is an apt description of the nation of Israel that Jesus came upon. Politically—and most importantly, spiritually—the chosen nation of God was in a mess. For the majority, their relationship with God was merely skin-deep. They merely went through the motions
I did not grow up in a Reformed church. When I first began to interact with Reformed churches, I was exposed to various points of liturgy that were somewhat unfamiliar: for instance, a benediction at the end of the service, corporate confession of sin, even