Mark 7:33

Took him aside. As He did later with the blind man at Bethsaida Julias (see ch. 8:22–26). Both districts were largely inhabited by heathen (see on Matt. 4:25), and thus it seems probable that this man was likewise a Gentile. Perhaps Jesus took the deaf-mute aside because the unusual procedure He followed in healing him might be misunderstood by the unthinking crowd and interpreted as a form of magic similar to the incantations of heathen miracle workers.

Put his fingers. Literally, “thrust his fingers” into the man’s ears. It has been suggested that by this action Jesus sought to convey to the afflicted man the idea that He was interested in his unfortunate condition.

Spit. Although ancient literature preserves numerous examples of the use of saliva by physicians and wonder-workers who believed it able to communicate healing from their bodies to those of their patients, and thus to have curative properties, there is no apparent reason why Jesus chose here to heal in this manner, so unusual for Him. Some have suggested the possibility that this gesture was simply a concession to the man’s unavoidable ignorance and dullness of perception. But whatever the reason may have been, the entire procedure here followed closely resembles that of the healing of the blind man of Bethsaida (see ch. 8:22–26).

Touched his tongue. The man was not only deaf, but, for practical purposes, dumb also (see on v. 32), and Christ touched both organs that were in need of healing.