[MYM] 17.0 Yeshua Heals a Deaf-Mute

Mark 7:31–37 narrates the healing of a deaf and mute man by Yeshua in the region of the Decapolis. This passage follows Yeshua’s encounter with the Syrophoenician woman (Mark 7:24–30), where He ministered to a Gentile by healing her daughter. The setting in the Decapolis—a predominantly Gentile region east of the Sea of Galilee—highlights the expanding scope of Yeshua’s ministry beyond Israel to include non-Jewish peoples.

In Mark’s Gospel, this miracle is significant because it reveals Yeshua as the one who fulfills Old Testament promises about the coming Messiah. Isaiah 35:5–6, for example, foretold that in the Messianic age, “the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped… the tongue of the mute shall sing for joy.” By including this account, Mark shows his audience that Yeshua’s ministry is the embodiment of God’s promised salvation.

Additionally, this miracle serves as a prelude to the feeding of the four thousand (Mark 8:1–10), another event in Gentile territory, reinforcing the truth that Yeshua’s mission is not limited to Israel alone but is for the whole world.

As Yeshua traveled through the Decapolis, some people brought to Him a man who was deaf and could hardly speak (Mark 7:32). They begged Yeshua to lay His hand on him, expressing both desperation and faith in His healing power.

Instead of performing the miracle in public, Yeshua took the man aside privately (v. 33). This personal act reflects Yeshua’s compassion and respect for the man’s dignity, away from the pressure of the crowd. Yeshua then used physical gestures—putting His fingers into the man’s ears, spitting, and touching the man’s tongue. These symbolic actions, while unusual, communicated in a way the man could understand since he could not hear Jesus’ words.

Yeshua then looked up to heaven and sighed deeply, expressing empathy and dependence on the Father. He spoke the Aramaic word “Ephphatha”—“Be opened!” Immediately, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak clearly (v. 35). This immediate and complete healing was undeniable evidence of divine power.

Yeshua ordered the people not to tell anyone (v. 36), reflecting the so-called “Messianic secret” in Mark’s Gospel. However, the more He commanded silence, the more widely the news spread. The people were utterly astonished, saying: “He has done everything well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak” (v. 37).

This miracle illustrates several key truths about Yeshua’s ministry and identity:

1. Compassionate Healer – Yeshua ministered personally and tenderly, engaging with the man in a way he could understand. His sigh shows His empathy with human suffering.
2. Messianic Fulfillment – The healing directly fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy of the Messianic age. Yeshua’s works confirm that He is the promised Savior bringing restoration and wholeness.
3. Power and Authority – With a single command, Yeshua restored both hearing and speech, demonstrating His authority over physical limitations caused by the fall.
4. Mission to the Gentiles – By performing this miracle in the Decapolis, Yeshua signaled that His ministry extended beyond Israel to all nations. This foreshadows the Great Commission and the global scope of the gospel.
5. The People’s Response – The crowd’s testimony, “He has done everything well,” echoes Genesis 1:31, where God saw creation as “very good.” Yeshua’s works reflect God’s creative power, restoring what was broken by sin.

In summary, Mark 7:31–37 highlights Yeshua as the compassionate Messiah whose mission fulfills Scripture, whose power restores broken lives, and whose ministry extends to all people. The miracle not only testifies to His divine authority but also invites faith and amazement, pointing to the Kingdom of God breaking into human history.