MSB MARK Chapter 7

The Tradition of the Elders

(Matthew 15:1–9)

Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around [Jesus]. 2 And seeing some of His disciples eating [with] hands [that were] defiled( that is, unwashed), they found fault.[fn]

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, vvv 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]

So the Pharisees and scribes questioned [Jesus]:“Why {do} Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders? Instead, they eat with unwashed[fn] hands.”

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.

They worship Me in vain;

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

You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men— the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other similar things you do.[fn]”

vvv He went on to say“vvv 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 vvv 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)

Once again [Jesus] called the whole crowd[fn] [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]. 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”[fn]

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

“Are you still so dull?” He asked“vvv Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside vvv can defile him, 19 because vvv it does not enter his heart, but [it goes] into the stomach and then is eliminated [thus] purifying all foods.”[fn]

He continued“What comes out of a man, that [is what] defiles [him]. 21 For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, adultery, sexual immorality, murder, theft,[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)

[Jesus] left that place [and] went to the region of Tyre and Sidon.[fn] Not wanting anyone to know [He was there], He entered [a] house, but vvv was unable to escape their notice. 25 For[fn] a woman whose little daughter had [an] unclean spirit heard[fn] 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.

“First let the children have their fill,” Jesus said“For it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss [it] to the dogs.”

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

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

The Deaf and Mute Man

(Matthew 9:27–34)

Then [Jesus] left the region of Tyre and Sidon [and] went toward the Sea of Galilee[fn] [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.

[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 vvv vvv vvv was released, and he began to speak plainly.

[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!”