[1] Then Pharisees and scribes come to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying, [2]
"Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don`t
wash their hands when they eat bread." [3] He answered them, "Why do you
also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition? [4] For God
commanded, `Honor your father and your mother,` and, `He who speaks evil of
father or mother, let him be put to death.` [5] But you say, `Whoever will
tell his father or his mother, "Whatever help you might otherwise have
gotten from me is a gift devoted to God," [6] he will not honor his father
or mother.` You have made the commandment of God void because of your
tradition. [7] You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, [8]
`These people draw near to me with their mouth, And honor me with their
lips; But their heart is far from me. [9] But in vain do they worship me,
Teaching as doctrine rules made by men.`" [10] He called the multitude to
himself, and said to them, "Hear, and understand. [11] That which enters
into the mouth doesn`t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the
mouth, this defiles the man." [12] Then the disciples came, and said to
him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this
saying?" [13] But he answered, "Every plant which my heavenly Father didn`t
plant will be uprooted. [14] Let them alone. They are blind guides of the
blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit." [15] Peter
answered him, "Explain the parable to us." [16] So Jesus said, "Do you also
still not understand? [17] Don`t you understand that whatever goes into the
mouth passes into the belly, and then out of the body? [18] But the things
which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart, and they defile
the man. [19] For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders,
adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies. [20]
These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands
doesn`t defile the man." [21] Jesus went out from there, and withdrew into
the parts of Tyre and Sidon. [22] Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from
those borders, and cried, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of
David. My daughter is grievously vexed with a demon." [23] But he answered
her not a word. His disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her
away; for she cries after us." [24] But he answered, "I wasn`t sent to
anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel." [25] But she came and
worshipped him, saying, "Lord, help me." [26] But he answered, "It is not
appropriate to take the children`s bread and throw it to the dogs." [27]
But she said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from
their masters` table." [28] Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your
faith! Be it done to you even as you desire." And her daughter was healed
from that hour. [29] Jesus departed there, and came near to the sea of
Galilee; and he went up into the mountain, and sat there. [30] There came
to him great multitudes, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed,
and many others, and they put them down at his feet. He healed them, [31]
so that the multitude wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the
injured whole, lame walking, and the blind seeing -- and they glorified the
God of Israel. [32] Jesus called his disciples to him, and said, "I have
compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days
and have nothing to eat. I don`t want to send them away fasting, or they
might faint on the way." [33] The disciples said to him, "Where should we
get so many loaves in a desert place as to fill so great a multitude?" [34]
Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven,
and a few small fish." [35] He commanded the multitude to sit down on the
ground; [36] and he took the seven loaves and the fish. He gave thanks and
broke them, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.
[37] They all ate, and were filled. They took up seven baskets full of the
broken pieces that were left over. [38] Those who ate were four thousand
men, besides women and children. [39] He sent away the multitudes, and
entered into the boat, and came into the borders of Magdala.
