Mark 7

The Traditions of the Elders

1Now the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem were gathered around 1Jesus. 2When they saw some of his disciples eating bread with hands that were defiled (that is, unwashed), they criticized them. 3(For none of the Pharisees or Jews eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4And when they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they have 2washed. There are also many other traditions they observe, such as the washing of cups, 3pots, copper vessels, and dining couches.) 5Now the Pharisees and the scribes asked Jesus, “Why do yoʋr disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with 4unwashed hands?” 6He 5answered them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,

‘This people honors me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me.

7They worship me in vain,

teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 86

For you have neglected the commandment of God and are holding to the tradition of 7men, such as various washings of pots and cups. And you do many other similar things such as these.”

9Then he said to them, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commandment of God so that you may keep your tradition! 10For Moses said, ‘Honor yoʋr father and yoʋr mother,’ and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of his father or mother must surely die.’ 11But you teach that it is acceptable for a man to say to his father or mother, ‘Whatever benefit yoʋ might have received from me is Corban’ ” (that is, a gift devoted to God). 12“In this way you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother, 13thus nullifying the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many similar things such as these.”

14Then Jesus called 8over the entire crowd and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: 15There is nothing outside of a person that can defile him by going into him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him. 169If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

17After Jesus had left the crowd and gone into a house, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18He said to them, “So are you also without understanding? Do you 10not understand that whatever goes into a person from the outside cannot defile him? 19For it does not go into his heart but into his stomach; then it goes out into the 11latrine, thus purifying all foods.” 20He also said, “It is what comes out of a person that defiles a person. 21For from within, from the hearts of men, come evil thoughts, 12adultery, fornication, murder, 22theft, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23All these evil things come from within and defile a person.”

A Syrophoenician Woman's Faith

24Then Jesus rose from there and went away to the region of Tyre 13and Sidon. He went into 14a house and did not want anyone to know it, yet he could not escape notice. 2515For a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him and came and fell at his feet. 26(This woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth.) She asked Jesus to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27But Jesus said to her, “Let the children first be filled, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28She answered him, “16Yes, Lord, 17yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” 29Then he said to her, “Because of this reply, yoʋ may go; the demon has come out of yoʋr daughter.” 30And when she went to her house, she found 18the demon gone and her daughter lying in bed.

Jesus Heals a Deaf and Mute Man

31Then Jesus came back from the region of Tyre and 19Sidon and went to the Sea of Galilee, within the region of the Decapolis. 32Some people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on the man. 33So Jesus took him aside privately, away from the crowd. Then he put his fingers into the man's ears, spit, and touched the man's tongue. 34And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha” (that is, “Be opened”). 3520Immediately the man's ears were opened, the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking clearly. 36Then Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone. But as much as he ordered them not to do so, they proclaimed it all the more. 37And they were completely astonished, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”