< Matthew 15 >
1 Then some Scribes and Pharisees of Jerusalem addressed him, saying,
2 Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders; for they was not their hands before meals.
3 Jesus answering, saud to them, Why do you yourselves by your tradition, transgress the commandment of God?
4 For God has commanded, saying, "Honor father and mother"; and "Whosoever reviles father or mother, let him be punished with death."
5 But you affirm, If a man say to father or mother, I devote whatever of mine shall profit you,
6 he shall not afterward honor by his assistance, his father or his mother. Thus, by your tradition, you annul the commandment of God.
7 Hypocrites, well do you suit the character which Isaiah gave of you, saying,
8 "This people honor me with their lips. though their heart is estranged from me.
9 But in vain they worship me, while they teach institutions merely human."
10 Then, having called the multitude, he said to them, Hear, and be instructed.
11 It is not what goes into the mouth pollutes the man; but it is what proceeds out of the mouth, that pollutes the man.
12 On which his disciples accosting him, said, Did you observe how the Pharisees, when they heard that saying were offended?
13 He answered, Every plant, which my heavenly Father has not planted, shall be extirpated.
14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind; and if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the ditch.
15 Then Peter addressing him, said, Explain to us that parable.
16 Jesus answered, Are you also void of understanding?
17 Do you not apprehend, that whatever enters the mouth passes into the stomach, and is thrown out into the sink.
18 But that which proceeds out of the mouth, issues from the heart, and so pollutes the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed malicious contrivances, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, calumnies.
20 These are the things which pollute the man; but to eat with unwashed hands pollutes not the man.
21 Then Jesus withdrew into the confines of Tyre and Sidon;
22 and behold! a Canaanitish woman of these territories came to him, crying, Master, Son of David, have pity on me; my daughter is grievously afflicted by a demon.
23 But he gave her no answer. Then his disciples interposed, and entreated him, saying, Dismiss her, for she clamors after us.
24 He answering said, My mission is only to the lost sheep of the stock of Israel.
25 She, nevertheless, advanced, and prostrating herself before him, said, O Lord, help me.
26 He replied, It is not seemly to take the children's bread, and throw it to the dogs.
27 True, Sir, returned she. Yet even the dogs are allowed the crumbs which fall from their master's table.
28 Then Jesus, answering, said to her, O woman! great is your faith. Be it to you as you desire. And that instant her daughter was healed.
29 Jesus having left that place, came nigh to the sea of Galilee, and repaired to a mountain, where he sat down;
30 and great multitudes flocked to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the dumb, the cripple, and several others, whom they laid at his feet; and he healed them:
31 insomuch that the people beheld, with admiration, the dumb speaking, the cripple sound, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.
32 Then Jesus called to him his disciples, and said, I have compassion on the multitude because they have now attended me three days, and have nothing to eat; I will not dismiss them fasting, lest they faint by the way.
33 His disciples answered, Whence can we get bread enough, in the solitude, to satisfy such a crowd?
34 He asked them, How many loaves have you? They said, Seven, and a few small fishes.
35 Then commanding the people to recline upon the ground,
36 he took the seven loaves and the fishes, which, having given thanks, he divided and gave to his disciples, who distributed them among the people.
37 When all had eat, and were satisfied, they carried off seven hand-baskets full of the fragments that remained.
38 Now they that had eat were four thousand men, besides women and children.
39 Then having dismissed the multitude, he embarked, and sailed to the coast of Magdala.
