Mark 7
1 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered together to him, having come from Jerusalem.
One day the Pharisees and some of the teachers of the Law who had come from Jerusalem gathered round Jesus.
2 Now when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is 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 don’t eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to 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 They don’t eat when they come from the marketplace unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things which they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze 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 The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why don’t your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their 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 them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honours 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 They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
but vainly do they worship me, For they teach but human precepts.”
8 “For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things.”
You neglect God’s commandments and hold to human traditions.
9 He said to them, “Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your 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, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to 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 tells his father or his mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban,”’” that is to say, given to God,
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 “then you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his 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 handed down. You do many things like this.”
In this way you nullify the words of God by your traditions, which you hand down; and you do many similar things.’
14 He called all the multitude to himself and said to them, “Hear me, all 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 outside of the man that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those 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 anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”
17 When he had entered into a house away from the multitude, his disciples asked him about the parable.
When Jesus went indoors, away from the crowd, his disciples began questioning him about this saying.
18 He said to them, “Are you also without understanding? Don’t you perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside can’t 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 doesn’t go into his heart, but into his stomach, then into the latrine, making all foods clean?”
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 He said, “That which proceeds 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 hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts,
for it is from within, out of the hearts of people, that there come evil thoughts – sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
22 covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and 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 From there he arose and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He entered into a house and didn’t want anyone to know it, but he couldn’t escape notice.
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 whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down 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 Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. She begged him that he would 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 But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to 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 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord. Yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
‘Yes, Master,’ she replied. ‘Even the dogs under the table do feed on the children’s crumbs.’
29 He said to her, “For this saying, go your way. The demon has gone out of your daughter.”
‘For saying that,’ he answered, ‘you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.’
30 She went away to her house, and found the child having been laid on the bed, with the demon gone out.
The woman went home, and found the child lying on her bed, and the demon gone.
31 Again he departed from the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and came to the sea of Galilee through the middle of the region 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 They brought to him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech. They begged him to 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 He took him aside from the multitude privately and put his fingers into his ears; and he spat 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 Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!”
Then, looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to the man, ‘Ephphatha!’ which means “Be opened.”
35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke clearly.
The man’s ears were opened, the string of his tongue was freed, and he began to talk plainly.
36 He commanded them that they should tell no one, but the more he commanded them, so much the more widely they proclaimed it.
Jesus insisted on their not telling anyone; but the more he insisted, the more perseveringly they made it known,
37 They were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes even the deaf hear and the mute 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!’
