Mark 7
1 And the Pharisees and certain ones of the scribes, having come from Jerusalem, gather to Him.
One day the Pharisees and some of the teachers of the Law who had come from Jerusalem gathered round Jesus.
2 And seeing certain ones of His disciples eating bread with defiled, that is, unwashed hands.
They had noticed that some of his disciples ate their food with their hands “defiled,” by which they meant unwashed.
3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews, unless they diligently wash their hands, do not eat, holding the tradition of the elders.
(For the Pharisees, and indeed all strict Jews, will not eat without first scrupulously washing their hands, holding in this to the traditions of their ancestors.
4 And from the forum, unless they may baptize themselves, they do not eat: and many other things which they have received to hold, the baptism of cups, and pots, and brazen vessels, and couches.
When they come from market, they will not eat without first sprinkling themselves; and there are many other customs which they have inherited and hold to, such as the ceremonial washing of cups, and jugs, and copper pans).
5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, Wherefore do not thy disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders: but they eat bread with unwashed hands?
So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law asked Jesus this question – ‘How is it that your disciples do not follow the traditions of our ancestors, but eat their food with defiled hands?’
6 And responding He said to them, Beautifully did Isaiah prophesy concerning you hypocrites, as has been written, This people honor me with lips, but their heart is far from me.
His answer was, ‘It was well said by Isaiah when he prophesied about you hypocrites in the words – “This is a people who honour me with their lips, while their hearts are far removed from me;
7 In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
but vainly do they worship me, For they teach but human precepts.”
8 For having left the commandment of God, you are holding the tradition of men.
You neglect God’s commandments and hold to human traditions.
9 And He said to them, Truly, you make void the commandment of God, that you may hold your own tradition.
Wisely do you set aside God’s commandments,’ he exclaimed, ‘to keep your own traditions!
10 For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother; and let the one speaking evil of father and mother die the death.
For while Moses said “Honour your father and your mother,” and “Let anyone who abuses their father or mother suffer death,”
11 But you say, If a man may say to father or mother, Corban, that is a gift, whatsoever you may be profited by me;
you say “If a person says to their father or mother ‘Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is Corban’” (which means “Set apart for God”) –
12 and you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother;
why, then you do not allow them to do anything further for their father or mother!
13 making void the word of God by your tradition, which you have given: and you do many such similar things.
In this way you nullify the words of God by your traditions, which you hand down; and you do many similar things.’
14 And calling the crowd to Him again, He said to them, Hear all ye, and understand.
Then Jesus called the people to him again, and said, ‘Listen to me, all of you, and mark my words.
15 There is nothing without a man coming into him, which is competent to defile him: but those things coming out from him, these are the things which defile the man.
There is nothing external to a person, which by going into them can defile them; but the things that come out of a person are the things that defile them.’
16 If any one has ears to hear, let him hear.
17 And when He came from the multitude into the house, His disciples asked Him the parable.
When Jesus went indoors, away from the crowd, his disciples began questioning him about this saying.
18 And He says to them, Are you still without understanding? Do you not know that everything external entering into a man is not able to defile him?
‘What, do even you understand so little?’ exclaimed Jesus. ‘Don’t you see that there is nothing external to a person, which by going into a person, can defile them,
19 Because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is cast out into the excrement, purifying all edibles.
because it does not pass into his heart, but into his stomach, and is afterwards got rid of?’ – in saying this Jesus pronounced all food clean.
20 And He said, Everything proceeding out from the man, that defiles the man.
‘It is what comes out from a person,’ he added, ‘that defiles them,
21 For within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil reasonings, adulteries, fornications, murders,
for it is from within, out of the hearts of people, that there come evil thoughts – sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, impurity, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, folly.
greed, wickedness, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, haughtiness, folly;
23 All these evils proceed out from within, and defile the man.
all these wicked things come from within, and do defile a person.’
24 And rising up, He departed thence into the regions of Tyre and Sidon. And having entered into a house, and He wished no one to know it: and He was not able to be hidden.
On leaving that place, Jesus went to the district of Tyre and Sidon. He went into a house, and did not wish anyone to know it, but could not escape notice.
25 For a woman hearing concerning Him, whose daughter had an unclean spirit, having come worshiped at His feet.
For a woman, whose little daughter had a foul spirit in her, heard of him immediately, and came and threw herself at his feet –
26 For the woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by race; and asked Him that He may cast the demon out of her daughter.
the woman was a foreigner, from Syrian Phoenicia – and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter.
27 And He said to her, Permit the children first to be fed: for It is not good to take the children's bread and cast it to little dogs.
‘Let the children be satisfied first,’ answered Jesus. ‘For it is not fair to take the children’s food, and throw it to dogs.’
28 And she responded and says to Him, Yea, Lord: for even the little dogs eat the crumbs of the children under the table.
‘Yes, Master,’ she replied. ‘Even the dogs under the table do feed on the children’s crumbs.’
29 And He said to her, On account of this word go; the demon has already gone out from thy daughter.
‘For saying that,’ he answered, ‘you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.’
30 And having come into her house, she found the demon gone out, and the daughter lying on the bed.
The woman went home, and found the child lying on her bed, and the demon gone.
31 And having again come out from Tyre and Sidon, He came to the Sea of Galilee, amid the coasts of Decapolis.
On returning from the district of Tyre, Jesus went, by way of Sidon, to the Sea of Galilee, across the district of the Ten Towns.
32 And they bring Him a deaf man, speaking with difficulty; and intreat Him that He may lay His hand on him.
Some people brought to him a man who was deaf and almost dumb, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.
33 And taking him from the crowd privately, He put His fingers in his ears, and having spat, He touched his tongue;
Jesus took him aside from the crowd quietly, put his fingers into the man’s ears, and touched his tongue with saliva.
34 and looking up to heaven, he groaned, and says to him, Ephphatha, which is, Be thou opened.
Then, looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to the man, ‘Ephphatha!’ which means “Be opened.”
35 And immediately his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue loosed, and he continued to speak distinctly.
The man’s ears were opened, the string of his tongue was freed, and he began to talk plainly.
36 And He charged them that they should tell no one: and the more He charged them, the more abundantly they proclaimed it.
Jesus insisted on their not telling anyone; but the more he insisted, the more perseveringly they made it known,
37 And were astonished exceedingly, saying, He has done all things well: He makes the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
and a profound impression was made on the people. ‘He has done everything well!’ they exclaimed. ‘He makes even the deaf hear and the dumb speak!’
