Mark 7

The Tradition of the Elders

The Tradition of the Elders

1Then came together unto him the Pharisees , and certain of the scribes , which came from Jerusalem . 2And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled , that is to say , with unwashen , hands , they found fault . 3For the Pharisees , and all the Jews , except they wash their hands oft , eat not , holding the tradition of the elders . 4And when they come from the market , except they wash , they eat not . And many other things there be , which they have received to hold , as the washing of cups , and pots , brasen vessels , and of tables . 5Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him , Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders , but eat bread with unwashen hands ? 6He answered and said unto them , Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites , as it is written , This people honoureth me with their lips , but their heart is far from me . 7Howbeit in vain do they worship me , teaching for doctrines the commandments of men . 8For laying aside the commandment of God , ye hold the tradition of men , as the washing of pots and cups : and many other such like things ye do . 9And he said unto them , Full well ye reject the commandment of God , that ye may keep your own tradition . 10For Moses said , Honour thy father and thy mother ; and , Whoso curseth father or mother , let him die the death : 11But ye say , If a man shall say to his father or mother , It is Corban , that is to say , a gift , by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me ; he shall be free . 12And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother ; 13Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition , which ye have delivered : and many such like things do ye. 14And when he had called all the people unto him , he said unto them , Hearken unto me every one of you , and understand : 15There is nothing from without a man , that entering into him can defile him : but the things which come out of him , those are they that defile the man . 16If any man have ears to hear , let him hear . 17And when he was entered into the house from the people , his disciples asked him concerning the parable . 18And he saith unto them , Are ye so without understanding also ? Do ye not perceive , that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man , it can not defile him ; 19Because it entereth not into his heart , but into the belly , and goeth out into the draught , purging all meats ? 20And he said , That which cometh out of the man , that defileth the man . 21For from within , out of the heart of men , proceed evil thoughts , adulteries , fornications , murders , 22Thefts , covetousness , wickedness , deceit , lasciviousness , an evil eye , blasphemy , pride , foolishness : 23All these evil things come from within , and defile the man .

The Syrophoenician Woman's Faith

24And from thence he arose , and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon , and entered into an house , and would have no man know it : but he could not be hid . 25For a certain woman , whose young daughter had an unclean spirit , heard of him , and came and fell at his feet : 26The woman was a Greek , a Syrophenician by nation ; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter . 27But Jesus said unto her , Let the children first be filled : for it is not meet to take the children’s bread , and to cast it unto the dogs . 28And she answered and said unto him , Yes , Lord : yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs . 29And he said unto her , For this saying go thy way ; the devil is gone out of thy daughter . 30And when she was come to her house , she found the devil gone out , and her daughter laid upon the bed .

Healing of a Deaf and Mute Man

31And again , departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon , he came unto the sea of Galilee , through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis . 32And they bring unto him one that was deaf , and had an impediment in his speech ; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him . 33And he took him aside from the multitude , and put his fingers into his ears , and he spit , and touched his tongue ; 34And looking up to heaven , he sighed , and saith unto him , Ephphatha , that is , Be opened . 35And straightway his ears were opened , and the string of his tongue was loosed , and he spake plain . 36And he charged them that they should tell no man : but the more he charged them , so much the more a great deal they published it ; 37And were beyond measure astonished , saying , He hath done all things well : he maketh both the deaf to hear , and the dumb to speak .