Matthew 15

Tradition and Commandment

11Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus 2from Jerusalem and said, 2“Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they 3do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” 3And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves also break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4For God said, ‘4Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘5The one who speaks evil of father or mother is to 6be put to death.’ 5But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you has been 7given to God,” 6he is not to 8honor his father or mother.’ And by this you have invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy about you, by saying:8‘9This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me.9And in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as 10doctrines the commandments of men.’”

10After Jesus called the crowd to Him, He said to them, “Hear and understand! 1111It is not what enters the mouth that defiles the person, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles the person.”

12Then the disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were 12offended when they heard this statement?” 13But He answered and said, “13Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted. 14Leave them alone; 14they are blind guides 15of blind people. And 16if a person who is blind guides another who is blind, both will fall into a pit.”

The Heart of Mankind

15Peter 17said to Him, “18Explain the parable to us.” 1619Jesus said, “Are you also still lacking in understanding? 17Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is 20eliminated? 18But 21the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and those things defile the person. 1922For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, acts of adultery, other immoral sexual acts, thefts, false testimonies, and 23slanderous statements. 20These are the things that defile the person; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the person.”

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman

2124Jesus went away from there, and withdrew into the region of 25Tyre and 26Sidon. 22And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, 27Son of David; my daughter is severely 28demon-possessed.” 23But He did not answer her with even a word. And His disciples came up and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting 29at us!” 24But He answered and said, “I was sent only to 30the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25But she came and 31began 32to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26Yet He answered and said, “It is not 33good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27And she said, “Yes, Lord; but please help, for even the dogs feed on the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, 34your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed 35at once.

Healing Crowds

2936Departing from there, Jesus went along 37the Sea of Galilee, and after going up on the mountain, He was sitting there. 30And 38large crowds came to Him bringing with them those who were limping, had impaired limbs, were blind, or were unable to speak, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet; and 39He healed them. 31So the crowd was astonished as they saw those who were unable to speak talking, those with impaired limbs 40restored, those who were limping walking around, and those who were blind seeing; and they 41glorified the God of Israel.

Four Thousand Men Fed

3242Now Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “43I feel compassion for the 44people, because they 45have remained with Me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.” 33The disciples said to Him, “Where would we get so many loaves in this desolate place to satisfy such a large crowd?” 34And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” 35And He directed the 46people to 47sit down on the ground; 36and He took the seven loaves and the fish; and after 48giving thanks, He broke them and started giving them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37And they all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, seven large 49baskets full. 38And those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.

39And sending away the crowds, Jesus got into 50the boat and came to the region of 51Magadan.