The Gospel According to St. Mark

⭑ Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 7 -

(Matthew 15:1–9)

And the Pharisees and some of the scribes, arriving from Jerusalem, gathered together before him.

And when they had seen certain ones from his disciples eating bread with common hands, that is, with unwashed hands, they disparaged them.

For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat without repeatedly washing their hands, holding to the tradition of the elders.

And when returning from the market, unless they wash, they do not eat. And there are many other things which have been handed down to them to observe: the washings of cups, and pitchers, and bronze containers, and beds.

And so the Pharisees and the scribes questioned him: “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but they eat bread with common hands?”

But in response, he said to them: “So well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, just as it has been written: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

And in vain do they worship me, teaching the doctrines and precepts of men.’(a)

For abandoning the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men, to the washing of pitchers and cups. And you do many other things similar to these.”

And he said to them: “You effectively nullify the precept of God, so that you may observe your own tradition.

For Moses said: ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever will have cursed father or mother, let him die a death.’

But you say, ‘If a man will have said to his father or mother: Korban, (which is a gift) whatever is from me will be to your benefit,’(b)

then you do not release him to do anything for his father or mother,

rescinding the word of God through your tradition, which you have handed down. And you do many other similar things in this way.”

What Defiles a Man

(Matthew 15:10–20)

And again, calling the crowd to him, he said to them: “Listen to me, all of you, and understand.

There is nothing from outside a man which, by entering into him, is able to defile him. But the things which proceed from a man, these are what pollute a man.(c)

Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.”

And when he had entered into the house, away from the crowd, his disciples questioned him about the parable.

And he said to them: “So, are you also without prudence? Do you not understand that everything entering to a man from outside is not able to pollute him?

For it does not enter into his heart, but into the gut, and it exits into the sewer, purging all foods.”

“But,” he said “the things which go out from a man, these pollute a man.

For from within, from the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

thefts, avarice, wickedness, deceitfulness, homosexuality, an evil eye, blasphemy, self-exaltation, foolishness.

All these evils proceed from within and pollute a man.”

The Faith of the Gentile Woman

(Matthew 15:21–28)

And rising up, he went from there to the area of Tyre and Sidon. And entering into a house, he intended no one to know about it, but he was not able to remain hidden.

For a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit, as soon as she heard about him, entered and fell prostrate at his feet.

For the woman was a Gentile, by birth a Syro-Phoenician. And she petitioned him, so that he would cast the demon from her daughter.

And he said to her: “First allow the sons to have their fill. For it is not good to take away the bread of the sons and throw it to the dogs.”

But she responded by saying to him: “Certainly, Lord. Yet the young dogs also eat, under the table, from the crumbs of the children.”

And he said to her, “Because of this saying, go; the demon has gone out of your daughter.”

And when she had gone to her house, she found the girl lying on the bed; and the demon had gone away.

The Deaf and Mute Man

(Matthew 9:27–34)

And again, departing from the borders of Tyre, he went by way of Sidon to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the area of the Ten Cities.(d)

And they brought someone who was deaf and mute to him. And they begged him, so that he would lay his hand upon him.

And taking him away from the crowd, he put his fingers into his ears; and spitting, he touched his tongue.

And gazing up to heaven, he groaned and said to him: “Ephphatha,” which is, “Be opened.”

And immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke correctly.(e)

And he instructed them not to tell anyone. But as much as he instructed them, so much more did they preach about it.

And so much more did they wonder, saying: “He has done all things well. He has caused both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

Footnotes

(a)7:7 Doctrines and precepts of men:See the annotations, Matt. 15. 9, 11.(Challoner)

(b)7:11 In other words, the man does not have to do anything for his parents, because everything good that he does is somehow to their benefit.(Conte)

(c)7:15 The word ‘coinquinant’ is from the 1590 Sixtus V edition of the Vulgate, in place of the word ‘communicant’ from the 1598 edition. The reason for using ‘communicant’ is the previous use of the word ‘communibus’ to refer to unwashed hands, but the continued use of that term becomes confusing.(Conte)

(d)7:31 The word ‘fines’ does not always mean ‘limits’ or ‘borders,’ it can also refer to the parts of something.(Conte)

(e)7:35 Apparently, this man was not completely mute, but could speak only with difficulty and with an impediment.(Conte)

(Matthew 15:1–9)

Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered together to him, having come from Jerusalem.

Now when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is unwashed, hands, they found fault.

(For the Pharisees and all the Jews don’t eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders.

They don’t eat when they come from the marketplace unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things which they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and couches.)

The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why don’t your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?”

He answered them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ (a)

“For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things.”

He said to them, “Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.

For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother;’ (b) and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’ (c)

But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban,”’” (d) that is to say, given to God,

“then you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother,

making void the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down. You do many things like this.”

What Defiles a Man

(Matthew 15:10–20)

He called all the multitude to himself and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand.

There is nothing from outside of the man that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man.

If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” (e)

When he had entered into a house away from the multitude, his disciples asked him about the parable.

He said to them, “Are you also without understanding? Don’t you perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside can’t defile him,

because it doesn’t go into his heart, but into his stomach, then into the latrine, making all foods clean?” (f)

He said, “That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man.

For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts,

covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness.

All these evil things come from within and defile the man.”

The Faith of the Gentile Woman

(Matthew 15:21–28)

From there he arose and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He entered into a house and didn’t want anyone to know it, but he couldn’t escape notice.

For a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his feet.

Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. She begged him that he would cast the demon out of her daughter.

But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

But she answered him, “Yes, Lord. Yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

He said to her, “For this saying, go your way. The demon has gone out of your daughter.”

She went away to her house, and found the child having been laid on the bed, with the demon gone out.

The Deaf and Mute Man

(Matthew 9:27–34)

Again he departed from the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and came to the sea of Galilee through the middle of the region of Decapolis.

They brought to him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech. They begged him to lay his hand on him.

He took him aside from the multitude privately and put his fingers into his ears; and he spat and touched his tongue.

Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!”

Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke clearly.

He commanded them that they should tell no one, but the more he commanded them, so much the more widely they proclaimed it.

They were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes even the deaf hear and the mute speak!”

Footnotes

(a)7:7 ℘ Isaiah 29:13

(b)7:10 ℘ Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16

(d)7:11 Corban is a Hebrew word for an offering devoted to God.

(e)7:16 NU omits verse 16.

(f)7:19 NU ends Jesus’ direct quote and question after “latrine”, ending the verse with “Thus he declared all foods clean.