MSB MAT Chapter 15

The Tradition of the Elders

(Mark 7:1–13)

Then [some] scribes and Pharisees[fn] came to Jesus from Jerusalem [and] asked, 2 “Why {do} Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? vvv They do not wash their hands before they eat

[Jesus] replied“And why {do} you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying,[fn]‘Honor [your] father and mother’[fn] and‘Anyone who curses [his] father or mother vvv must be put to death.’[fn] 5 But you say that if anyone says to [his] father or mother,‘Whatever vvv you would have received from me is a gift devoted [to God],’ 6 then[fn] vvv vvv he need not honor his father or mother [with it].[fn] Thus you nullify the commandment[fn] of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you

‘These people draw near to Me with their mouths,

and {they}[fn] honor Me with [their] lips,

but their hearts are far from Me.

They worship Me in vain;

they teach [as] doctrine [the] precepts of men.’[fn]”

What Defiles a Man

(Mark 7:14–23)

[Jesus] called the crowd [to Him] [and] said“Listen and understand. 11 A man is not defiled by what enters [his] mouth, but by what comes out of [it].”

Then His disciples[fn] came to Him and said,“Are You aware that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this

But [Jesus] replied“Every plant that My heavenly Father vvv has not planted will be pulled up by its roots. 14 Disregard them! They are blind guides If [a] blind [man] leads [a] blind [man], both will fall into a pit.”

Peter said to Him,“Explain this[fn] parable to us.”

“Do you vvv still not understand?” Jesus asked. 17 “Do you not yet[fn] realize that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then is eliminated 18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, [and] slander. 20 These are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands vvv does not defile [him].”

The Faith of the Canaanite Woman

(Mark 7:24–30)

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And a Canaanite woman from vvv that region came to Him,[fn] crying out“Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter {is} miserably possessed by a demon.”

But vvv [Jesus] did not answer a word So His disciples came [and] urged Him“Send her away for she keeps crying out after us.”

He answered“vvv I was sent only to the lost sheep of [the] house of Israel.”

[The woman] came [and] knelt before Him.“Lord, help me!” she said.

But [Jesus] replied“It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss [it] to the dogs.”

“Yes, Lord,” she said, even the dogs[fn] eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

“O woman,” Jesus answered“your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

The Feeding of the Four Thousand

(2 Kings 4:42–44, Mark 8:1–10)

Moving on from there, Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee. Then He went up on a mountain [and] sat down. 30 Large crowds came to Him, bringing [the] lame, [the] blind, [the] mute, [the] crippled,[fn] and many others, and laid them at Jesus' feet,[fn] and He healed them. 31 The crowds were amazed[fn] when they saw [the] mute speaking, [the] crippled restored, [the] lame walking, and [the] blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.

Then Jesus called His disciples [to Him] [and] said,“I have compassion for [this] crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. vvv I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may faint along the way.”

His disciples replied“Where in this desolate place could we [find] enough bread vvv to feed such a large crowd?”

“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked

“Seven,” they replied,“and a few small fish.”

And He commanded[fn] the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Taking the seven loaves and the fish, He gave thanks [and] broke [them]. Then He gave [them] to His disciples, and the disciples [gave them] to the people.

They all ate and were satisfied, and [the disciples] picked up seven basketfuls vvv of broken pieces that were left over. 38 A total of four thousand men were fed, besides women and children.

After [Jesus] had dismissed the crowds, He got into the boat and went to the region of Magdala.[fn]