Mark 7
1 One day the Pharisees and some of the Teachers of the Law who had come from Jerusalem gathered round Jesus.
Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus,
2 They had noticed that some of his disciples ate their food with their hands ‘defiled,’ by which they meant unwashed.
and they saw some of His disciples eating with hands that were defiled—that is, unwashed.
3 (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.
Now in holding to the tradition of the elders, the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat until they wash their hands ceremonially.
4 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).
And on returning from the market, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions for them to observe, including the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and couches for dining.
5 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?”
So the Pharisees and scribes questioned Jesus: “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders? Instead, they eat with defiled hands.”
6 His answer was: “It was well said by Isaiah when he prophesied about you hypocrites in the words — ‘This is a people that honour me with their lips, while their hearts are far removed from me;
Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.
7 but vainly do they worship me, For they teach but the precepts of men.’
They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’
8 You neglect God’s commandments and hold to the traditions of men.
You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.”
9 Wisely do you set aside God’s commandments,” he exclaimed, “to keep your own traditions!
He went on to say, “You neatly set aside the command of God to maintain your own tradition.
10 For while Moses said ‘Honour thy father and thy mother,’ and ‘Let him who reviles his father or mother suffer death,’
For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’
11 you say ‘If a man says to his father or mother “Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is Korban”’ (which means ‘Given to God’) —
But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God),
12 why, then you do not allow him to do anything further for his father or mother!
he is no longer permitted to do anything for his father or mother.
13 In this way you nullify the words of God by your traditions, which you hand down; and you do many similar things.”
Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.”
14 Then Jesus called the people to him again, and said: “Listen to me, all of you, and mark my words.
Once again Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, “All of you, listen to Me and understand:
15 There is nothing external to a man, which by going into him can ‘defile’ him; but the things that come out from a man are the things that defile him.”
Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him; but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him.”
17 When Jesus went indoors, away from the crowd, his disciples began questioning him about this saying.
After Jesus had left the crowd and gone into the house, His disciples inquired about the parable.
18 “What, do even you understand so little?” exclaimed Jesus. “Do not you see that there is nothing external to a man, which by going into a man, can ‘defile’ him,
“Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him,
19 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.’
because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.)
20 “It is what comes out from a man,” he added, “that defiles him,
He continued: “What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him.
21 for it is from within, out of the hearts of men, that there come evil thoughts — unchastity, theft, murder, adultery,
For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
22 greed, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, haughtiness, folly;
greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness.
23 all these wicked things come from within, and do defile a man.”
All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.”
24 On leaving that place, Jesus went to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And he went into a house, and did not wish anyone to know it, but could not escape notice.
Jesus left that place and went to the region of Tyre. Not wanting anyone to know He was there, He entered a house, but was unable to escape their notice.
25 For a woman, whose little daughter had a foul spirit in her, heard of him immediately, and came and threw herself at his feet —
Instead, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit soon heard about Jesus, and she came and fell at His feet.
26 the woman was a foreigner, a native of Syrian Phoenicia — and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter.
Now she was a Greek woman of Syrophoenician origin, and she kept asking Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
27 “Let the children be satisfied first,” answered Jesus. “For it is not fair to take the children’s food, and throw it to dogs.”
“First let the children have their fill,” He said. “For it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
28 “Yes, Master,” she replied; “even the dogs under the table do feed on the children’s crumbs.”
“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
29 “For saying that,” he answered, “you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.”
Then Jesus told her, “Because of this answer, you may go. The demon has left your daughter.”
30 The woman went home, and found the child lying on her bed, and the demon gone.
And she went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.
31 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.
Then Jesus left the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.
32 Some people brought to him a man who was deaf and almost dumb, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.
Some people brought to Him a man who was deaf and hardly able to speak, and they begged Jesus to place His hand on him.
33 Jesus took him aside from the crowd quietly, put his fingers into the man’s ears, and touched his tongue with saliva.
So Jesus took him aside privately, away from the crowd, and put His fingers into the man’s ears. Then He spit and touched the man’s tongue.
34 Then, looking up to Heaven, he sighed, and said to the man: “Ephphatha!” which means ‘Be opened.’
And looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”).
35 The man’s ears were opened, the string of his tongue was freed, and he began to talk plainly.
Immediately the man’s ears were opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak plainly.
36 Jesus insisted upon their not telling any one; but the more he insisted, the more perseveringly they made it known,
Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more He ordered them, the more widely they proclaimed it.
37 and a profound impression was made upon the people. “He has done everything well!” they exclaimed. “He makes even the deaf hear and the dumb speak!”
The people were utterly astonished and said, “He has done all things well! He makes even the deaf hear and the mute speak!”
