Mark 7
1 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.
One day the Pharisees and some of the teachers of the Law who had come from Jerusalem gathered round Jesus.
2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashed, hands, they found fault.
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, except they wash their hands often, eat not, 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 when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables.
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, Why walk not your disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but 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 He answered and said unto them, Well has Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their 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 Nevertheless 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 laying aside the commandment of God, all of you hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things all of you do.
You neglect God’s commandments and hold to human traditions.
9 And he said unto them, Full well all of you reject the commandment of God, that all of you may keep your own tradition.
Wisely do you set aside God’s commandments,’ he exclaimed, ‘to keep your own traditions!
10 For Moses said, Honour your father and your mother; and, Whoso curses father or mother, let him 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 all of you say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever you might be profited by me; he shall be free.
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 all of you suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
why, then you do not allow them to do anything further for their father or mother!
13 Making the word (logos) of God of no effect through your tradition, which all of you have delivered: and many such like things do all of you.
In this way you nullify the words of God by your traditions, which you hand down; and you do many similar things.’
14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, 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 from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that 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 man have ears to hear, let him hear.
17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
When Jesus went indoors, away from the crowd, his disciples began questioning him about this saying.
18 And he says unto them, Are all of you so without understanding also? Do all of you not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without enters into the man, it cannot 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 enters not into his heart, but into the belly, and goes out into the draught, purging all meats?
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, That which comes out of the man, that defiles the man.
‘It is what comes out from a person,’ he added, ‘that defiles them,
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, 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, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
greed, wickedness, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, haughtiness, folly;
23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
all these wicked things come from within, and do defile a person.’
24 And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.
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 certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, (pneuma) heard of him, and came and fell 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 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil 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 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the 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 answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.
‘Yes, Master,’ she replied. ‘Even the dogs under the table do feed on the children’s crumbs.’
29 And he said unto her, For this saying (logos) go your way; the devil is gone out of your daughter.
‘For saying that,’ he answered, ‘you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.’
30 And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
The woman went home, and found the child lying on her bed, and the demon gone.
31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of 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 unto him one that was deaf, and had an barrier in his speech; and they plead to him to put his hand upon 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 he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and 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 sighed, and says unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be 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 string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plain.
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 man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;
Jesus insisted on their not telling anyone; but the more he insisted, the more perseveringly they made it known,
37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He has done all things well: he makes both 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!’
