Tradition and Vain Worship
1 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered together to him, having come from Jerusalem. 2 When they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled hands, that is, unwashed hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 They do not eat when they come from the marketplace unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things, which they have received to observe: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and dining chairs. 5 The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why did your disciples not walk in accordance with the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?”
6 He answered them, “Isaiah did well to prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,
‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me.
7 They worship me in vain,
teaching as doctrines, the commandments of men.’ a
8 “For you set aside the commandment of God and hold tightly to the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things.” 9 He said to them, “Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ b and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’ c 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother: Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban,’ ” that is to say, given to God, 12 “then you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother, 13 making void the word of God by your tradition, which you have handed down. You do many things like this.”
What Defiles a Man
14 He called all the people to himself and said to them, “Hear me, all of you and understand. 15 There is nothing from outside of the man, that going into him can defile him, but it is the things which proceed out of the man that defile the man. 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”
17 When he had entered into a house away from the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 He said to them, “Are you also without understanding? Do you not perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, then eliminated, making all foods clean?” 20 He said, “That which proceeds out of the man, is what defiles the man. 21 For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, greed, sexual sins, murder, theft, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile the man.
The Faith of the Syro-Phoenician Woman
24 From there Jesus arose and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He entered into a house and did not want anyone to know it, but he could not escape notice. 25 For a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by race. She begged Jesus that he would cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord. Yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
29 He said to her, “Because you have said this, you can go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.”
30 She went back to her house and found the child having been laid on the bed, and the demon had gone out from her.
Jesus Heals a Deaf and Mute Man
31 Again he departed from the borders of Tyre and Sidon and came to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the Decapolis region. 32 They brought to him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech. They begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 He took him aside from the multitude, privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. 34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!” 35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke clearly.
36 Jesus commanded them that they should tell no one, but the more he commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it. 37 They were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well. He makes even the deaf hear and the mute speak!”
a Isaiah 29:13
b Exodus 20:12
c Exodus 21:17