The Tradition of the Elders
15:1Then there come to Jesus from Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes, saying, 15:2Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 15:3And he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 15:4For God said, Honor thy father and thy mother: and, He that speaketh evil of father or mother, let him die the death. 15:5But ye say, whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is given to God; 15:6he shall not honor his father. And ye have made void the word of God because of your tradition. 15:7Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,
15:8This people honoreth me with their lips;
But their heart is far from me.
15:9But in vain do they worship me,
Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.
Cf. Mark 7:1-13
Things That Defile
15:10And he called to him the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 15:11Not that which entereth into the mouth defileth the man; but that which proceedeth out of the mouth, this defileth the man. 15:12Then came the disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying? 15:13But he answered and said, Every plant which my heavenly Father planted not, shall be rooted up. 15:14Let them alone: they are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both shall fall into a pit. 15:15And Peter answered and said unto him, Declare unto us the parable. 15:16And he said, Are ye also even yet without understanding? 15:17Perceive ye not, that whatsoever goeth into the mouth passeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 15:18But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man. 15:19For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings: 15:20these are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not the man.
Cf. Mark 7:14-23
The Canaanite Woman's Faith
15:21And Jesus went out thence, and withdrew into the parts of Tyre and Sidon. 15:22And behold, a Canaanitish woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a demon. 15:23But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 15:24But he answered and said, I was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 15:25But she came and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 15:26And he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread and cast it to the dogs. 15:27But she said, Yea, Lord: for even the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 15:28Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it done unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was healed from that hour.
Cf. Mark 7:24-30
Jesus Cures Many People
15:29And Jesus departed thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and he went up into the mountain, and sat there. 15:30And there came unto him great multitudes, having with them the lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and they cast them down at this feet; and he healed them: 15:31insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb speaking, the maimed whole, and lame walking, and the blind seeing: and they glorified the God of Israel.
Cf. Mark 7:31-37
Feeding the Four Thousand
15:32And Jesus called unto him his disciples, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat: and I would not send them away fasting, lest haply they faint on the way. 15:33And the disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so many loaves in a desert place as to fill so great a multitude? 15:34And Jesus said unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few small fishes. 15:35And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground; 15:36and he took the seven loaves and the fishes; and he gave thanks and brake, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes. 15:37And they all ate, and were filled: and they took up that which remained over of the broken pieces, seven baskets full. 15:38And they that did eat were four thousand men, besides women and children. 15:39And he sent away the multitudes, and entered into the boat, and came into the borders of Magadan.
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