Tradition vs. God's Commandments
Study note
When the Pharisees accuse Jesus' disciples of breaking the tradition of handwashing, Jesus turns the accusation back on them: their tradition of 'Corban' actually nullifies God's command to honor one's parents. Quoting Isaiah, he exposes their worship as hypocritical -- honoring God with lips while hearts remain far away. Jesus then teaches a revolutionary principle: what makes a person unclean is not what enters the mouth but what comes out of the heart -- evil thoughts, murder, adultery, and other sins.
1 A group of Pharisees and scribes traveled from Jerusalem to question Jesus. They asked him, Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
2 "How come your followers break the rules passed down from our ancestors? They don't even bother washing their hands in the proper way before meals." Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
3 Jesus shot back, "And how come you break God's actual commands just to hold on to your man-made traditions?" But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
4 "God clearly said, 'Show deep respect for your father and mother.' He also said, 'Anyone who curses their father or mother must be put to death.'" For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
5 "But you teach that someone can tell needy parents, 'My money goes to God now.' Then they do not have to help at all." But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
6 "By doing that, you let people off the hook from caring for their parents. You have tossed aside God's command to make room for your own tradition." And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
7 "What fakes you are! Esaias nailed it when he described you:" Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
8 "'These people say all the right words and look like they honor me, but deep down their hearts are nowhere near me." This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 "Their worship is hollow and pointless, because the rules they teach are just human inventions, not God's truth.'" But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
10 Then Jesus called the crowd over and said, "Listen carefully and make sure you understand this:" And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
11 "What you eat does not make you unclean before God. It is what comes out of your mouth — that is what makes you unclean." Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
12 His followers pulled him aside and said, "Did you realize the Pharisees were deeply upset by what you just said?" Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
13 Jesus said, "Every plant that my Father in heaven did not put in the ground will be pulled up." But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
14 "Ignore them. They are blind tour guides trying to lead blind tourists. When a blind person leads another blind person, they both tumble into a ditch." Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
15 Peter spoke up and said, "Could you explain that lesson you gave?" Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.
16 Jesus said, "After all this time, do you still not get it?" And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
17 "Don't you realize that food goes into your mouth, down to your stomach, and then out of your body?" Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
18 "But words come from what is brewing inside your heart — and those are the things that make you dirty before God." But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19 "Ugly things come out of the heart. Evil plans, murder, cheating on your spouse, sleeping around, stealing, lying, and cursing God all start there." For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
20 "Those are the things that truly make a person dirty. Eating without washing your hands the traditional way does not make anyone dirty." These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
The Faith of the Canaanite Woman
Study note
A Gentile woman from the region of Tyre and Sidon approaches Jesus begging for her demon-tormented daughter. Jesus' initial silence and his statement about being sent to the lost sheep of Israel test her faith profoundly. Her persistent, humble response -- that even dogs eat crumbs from the master's table -- draws from Jesus the remarkable commendation, 'O woman, great is your faith!' Her daughter is healed instantly, previewing the expansion of the gospel beyond Israel.
21 Leaving there, Jesus headed for the area around Tyre and Sidon. Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
22 A woman from that region, who was a Canaanite, came running up and cried out, "Please, Lord, Son of David, have pity on me! My daughter is in horrible shape — a demon is torturing her." And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
23 At first, Jesus did not say a single word to her. His followers urged him, "Deal with her and send her on her way. She will not stop yelling after us." But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
24 Jesus told her, "God sent me specifically to help the lost sheep of Israel." But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
25 But the woman came closer, knelt at his feet, and begged, "Lord, please help me!" Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
26 Jesus replied, "It is not right to take food away from the children and toss it to the dogs." But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
27 She said, "That is true, Lord. But even the dogs get to eat the scraps that fall off their master's table." And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
28 Jesus was moved by her response. He said, "Woman, your faith is incredible! What you asked for is yours." At that very moment, her daughter was healed. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Healing Multitudes and Feeding the Four Thousand
Study note
Jesus returns to the Sea of Galilee, where great crowds bring their lame, blind, mute, and crippled to him for healing. The people glorify the God of Israel as they witness these healings. Jesus' compassion then leads to a second mass feeding miracle, this time feeding four thousand men plus women and children with seven loaves and a few small fish, with seven baskets of leftovers -- confirming his role as the bread of life for all people.
29 Jesus moved on from there and walked along the Sea of Galilee. He climbed a hillside and sat down. And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.
30 Enormous crowds came streaming toward him, bringing along people who were lame, blind, unable to speak, badly injured, and many others with different problems. They placed them at the feet of Jesus, and he healed them all. And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:
31 The crowd watched in amazement as people who could not speak started talking, injured people were made whole, those who could not walk started walking, and blind people opened their eyes and could see. They gave praise to the God of Israel. Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.
32 Jesus gathered his followers and said, "My heart goes out to this crowd. They have stayed with me for three days now and have run out of food. If I send them home with empty stomachs, some of them might pass out on the way." Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
33 His followers asked, "Where could we get enough bread out here in the wilderness to feed all these people?" And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?
34 Jesus asked, "How much food do you have?" They said, "Seven loaves of bread and a handful of small fish." And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.
35 Jesus told the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
36 He picked up the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks to God, broke them apart, and passed them to his followers. They handed the food out to everyone. And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
37 Everyone ate until they were satisfied. When they picked up the leftovers, there were seven full baskets. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.
38 The people who ate that day included four thousand men, plus women and children. And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.
39 After sending the crowd on their way, Jesus got into a boat and sailed to the area of Magdala. And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.