The Gospel According to St. Matthew

⭑ Catholic Public Domain Version 2009 ⭑

- Chapter 15 -

(Mark 7:1–13)

Then the scribes and the Pharisees came to him from Jerusalem, saying:

“Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

But responding, he said to them: “And why do you transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said:

‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Whoever will have cursed father or mother shall die a death.’

But you say: ‘If anyone will have said to father or mother, “It is dedicated, so that whatever is from me will benefit you,”(a)

(b)

then he shall not honor his father or his mother.’ So have you nullified the commandment of God, for the sake of your tradition.

Hypocrites! How well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

For in vain do they worship me, teaching the doctrines and commandments of men.’ ”(c)

What Defiles a Man

(Mark 7:14–23)

And having called the multitudes to him, he said to them: “Listen and understand.

A man is not defiled by what enters into the mouth, but by what proceeds from the mouth. This is what defiles a man.”(d)

Then his disciples drew near and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees, upon hearing this word, were offended?”

But in response he said: “Every plant which has not been planted by my heavenly Father shall be uprooted.

Leave them alone. They are blind, and they lead the blind. But if the blind are in charge of the blind, both will fall into the pit.”

And responding, Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.”

But he said: “Are you, even now, without understanding?

Do you not understand that everything that enters into the mouth goes into the gut, and is cast into the sewer?

But what proceeds from the mouth, goes forth from the heart, and those are the things that defile a man.

For from the heart go out evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies.

These are the things that defile a man. But to eat without washing hands does not defile a man.”

The Faith of the Canaanite Woman

(Mark 7:24–30)

And departing from there, Jesus withdrew into the areas of Tyre and Sidon.

And behold, a woman of Canaan, going out from those parts, cried out, saying to him: “Take pity on me, Lord, Son of David. My daughter is badly afflicted by a demon.”

He did not say a word to her. And his disciples, drawing near, petitioned him, saying: “Dismiss her, for she is crying out after us.”

And responding, he said, “I was not sent except to the sheep who have fallen away from the house of Israel.”

But she approached and adored him, saying, “Lord, help me.”

And responding, he said, “It is not good to take the bread of the children and cast it to the dogs.”

But she said, “Yes, Lord, but the young dogs also eat from the crumbs that fall from the table of their masters.”

Then Jesus, responding, said to her: “O woman, great is your faith. Let it be done for you just as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

The Feeding of the Four Thousand

(2 Kings 4:42–44; Mark 8:1–10)

And when Jesus had passed from there, he arrived beside the sea of Galilee. And ascending onto a mountain, he sat down there.

And great multitudes came to him, having with them the mute, the blind, the lame, the disabled, and many others. And they cast them down at his feet, and he cured them,

so much so that the crowds wondered, seeing the mute speaking, the lame walking, the blind seeing. And they magnified the God of Israel.

And Jesus, calling together his disciples, said: “I have compassion on the crowds, because they have persevered with me now for three days, and they do not have anything to eat. And I am not willing to dismiss them, fasting, lest they faint along the way.”

And the disciples said to him: “From where, then, in the desert, would we obtain enough bread to satisfy so a great multitude?”

And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves of bread do you have?” But they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.”

And he instructed the crowds to recline upon the ground.

And taking the seven loaves and the fish, and giving thanks, he broke and gave to his disciples, and the disciples gave to the people.

And they all ate and were satisfied. And, from what was left over of the fragments, they took up seven full baskets.

But those who ate were four thousand men, plus children and women.

And having dismissed the crowd, he climbed into a boat. And he went into the coastal region of Magadan.

Footnotes

(a)15:5 In other words, any gift that would have been given to one’s parents is still counted as benefiting them, even though it is not given to them.(Conte)

(b)15:5 The gift, etc:That is, the offering that I shall make to God, shall be instead of that which should be expended for thy profit. This tradition of the Pharisees was calculated to enrich themselves; by exempting children from giving any further assistance to their parents, if they once offered to the temple and the priests, that which should have been the support of their parents. But this was a violation of the law of God, and of nature, which our Saviour here condemns.(Challoner)

(c)15:9 Commandments of men:The doctrines and commandments here reprehended are such as are either contrary to the law of God, (as that of neglecting parents, under pretence of giving to God,) or at least are frivolous, unprofitable, and no ways conducing to true piety, as that of often washing hands, etc., without regard to the purity of the heart. But as to the rules and ordinances of the holy church, touching fasts, festivals, etc., these are no ways repugnant to, but highly agreeable to God’s holy word, and all Christian piety: neither are they to be counted among the doctrines and commandments of men; because they proceed not from mere human authority; but from that which Christ has established in his church; whose pastors he has commanded us to hear and obey, even as himself. St. Luke 10. 16; St. Matt. 18. 17.(Challoner)

(d)15:11 Not that which goes into, etc:No uncleanness in meat, nor any dirt contracted by eating it with unwashed hands, can defile the soul: but sin alone; or a disobedience of the heart to the ordinance and will of God. And thus when Adam took the forbidden fruit, it was not the apple, which entered into the mouth, but the disobedience to the law of God which defiled him. The same is to be said if a Jew, in the time of the old law, had eaten swine’s flesh; or a Christian convert, in the days of the apostles, contrary to their ordinance, had eaten blood; or if any of the faithful at present should transgress the ordinance of God’s church, by breaking the fasts: for in all these cases the soul would be defiled; not indeed by that which goes into the mouth; but by the disobedience of the heart, in wilfully transgressing the ordinance of God, or of those who have their authority from him.(Challoner)