BSB MARK Chapter 7

The Tradition of the Elders

(Matthew 15:1–9)

7 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around [Jesus], 2 and they saw some of His disciples eating [with] hands [that were] defiled—that is, unwashed.

3 Now in holding to the tradition of the elders, the Pharisees and all the Jews {do} not eat until they wash [their] hands ceremonially.[fn] 4 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.[fn]

5 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 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 They worship Me in vain; they teach [as] doctrine [the] precepts of men.’[fn]

8 You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.[fn]”

9 He went on to say You neatly set aside the command of God to maintain[fn] your [own] tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’[fn] and ‘Anyone who curses [his] father or mother must be put to death.’[fn] 11 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 he [is] no longer permitted to do anything for his father or mother. 13 [Thus] you nullify the word of God by [the] tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such [matters].”

What Defiles a Man

(Matthew 15:10–20)

14 Once again [Jesus] called the crowd [to Him] [and] said “All of you, listen to Me and understand: 15 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].”[fn]

17 After [Jesus] had left the crowd [and gone] into [the] house, His disciples inquired about the parable.

18 “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 enter his heart, but [it goes] into the stomach and then is eliminated ([Thus] all foods are clean.)[fn]

20 He continued “What comes out of a man, that [is what] defiles [him]. 21 For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,[fn] 22 greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy slander, arrogance, [and] foolishness. 23 All these evils come from within, and [these are what] defile a man.”

The Faith of the Gentile Woman

(Matthew 15:21–28)

24 [Jesus] left that place [and] went to the region of Tyre.[fn] Not wanting anyone to know [He was there], He entered [a] house, but was unable to escape their notice. 25 Instead, a woman whose little daughter had [an] unclean spirit soon heard about Jesus, [and] she came [and] fell at His feet. 26 Now she was a Greek woman of Syrophoenician origin, and she kept asking [Jesus] to drive the demon out of her daughter.

27 “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, Lord,” she replied “even the dogs[fn] under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

29 Then [Jesus] told her, “Because of this answer, you may go. The demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home [and] found [her] child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.

The Deaf and Mute Man

(Matthew 9:27–34)

31 Then [Jesus] left the region of Tyre [and] went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee [and] into the region of [the] Decapolis.[fn] 32 [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 [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 And looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”). 35 Immediately[fn] [the man’s] ears were opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak plainly.

36 [Jesus] ordered them not to tell anyone But the more He ordered them, the more widely they proclaimed [it]. 37 [The people] were utterly astonished [and] said, “He has done all things well! He makes even the deaf hear and the mute speak!”