Jesus rebuts scribes and Pharisees

1Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him, having come from Jerusalem. ¹³⁵

2And upon seeing some of His disciples eating bread with ‘unclean’—that is, ceremonially unwashed—hands, they found fault.

3(Because the Pharisees, indeed all the Jews, do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding to the tradition of the elders.

4When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things they have received and hold—washings of cups, pitchers, copper vessels and couches.) ¹³⁶

5Then the Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why don't your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, ¹³⁷but eat their bread with unwashed hands?”

6So in answer He said to them: “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, ¹³⁸as it stands written: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

7But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ¹³⁹

8Because having left the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men—washings of pitchers and cups, and many other similar things that you do.” ¹⁴⁰

9Indeed He said to them: “You are very good at nullifying the commandment of God, so that you may keep your tradition.

10For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.’ ¹⁴¹

11But you say that if a man should say to father or mother, ‘Whatever profit you might have received from me is Korban’ (that is, a gift to God), ¹⁴²

12you don't even allow him to do anything for his father or his mother any more,

13making the Word of God of no effect by your tradition that you have handed down. Yes, you do many such things.”

That which really defiles

14Upon summoning the larger crowd He said to them: “Hear me, everyone, and understand:

15There is nothing outside a man that can defile him by going into him; ¹⁴³rather, the things that come out of him, those are the ones that defile him.

16If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” ¹⁴⁴

17When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples started to question Him about the parable.

18So He said to them: “Can you really be without understanding? Don't you perceive that nothing that enters a man from outside can defile him,

19because it doesn't go into his heart, but into his stomach, which then expels the impure aspects of the food?” ¹⁴⁵

20He went on to say: “That which comes out of a man, that is what defiles him.

21Because from within, out of men's hearts, the evil designs proceed—adulteries, fornications, murders,

22thefts, covetings, malignancies; deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, arrogance, foolishness—

23all these malignant things proceed from within and defile the man.”

A ‘crumb’ for a ‘little dog’7:24 This episode has puzzled me for quite some time. Consider: a) In explaining His lack of response to the woman's pleading, Jesus affirms that He was only sent to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24)—so what is He doing in Gentile territory? b) The Text says He tried to get into a house without being seen; it follows that the group had kept a low profile, trying to avoid attention; and yet the woman intercepted Him well before He got there, and followed, crying out repeatedly (thereby blowing His ‘cover’)—so how did the woman learn of His presence, how did she know when and where to go, and how did she know to address Him as ‘Son of David’? c) Although He may have done more than is recorded, and we do not know how long He stayed, expelling that demon is all that is recorded—so why did He undertake that journey, apparently the only side trip to that region? I suspect that this was a special case, similar to Cornelius, or the Ethiopian treasurer—she had gotten God's attention, somehow. I imagine that an angel told her where to go, and when, and to call Him, ‘Son of David’ (Messiah). Of course she gave us an unusual example of faith, humility and perseverance, but I wonder if God is not telling us something more: it is possible to get a ‘crumb’ (a real need), even when it is not the proper time frame (καιρος).

24Then He got ready and went from there into the region of Tyre and Sidon. He went into a house and did not want anyone to know it, but He could not escape notice.

25In fact, as soon as she heard about Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit came and fell at His feet. ¹⁴⁶

26Now the woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenecian by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. ¹⁴⁷

27But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first; it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs.” ¹⁴⁸

28So she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children's crumbs.”

29So He said to her, “Because of this saying you may go; the demon has gone out of your daughter.”

30She went away to her house and found that the demon was gone and the daughter had been placed on the bed. ¹⁴⁹

Jesus heals a deaf mute

31Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, Jesus came to the Sea of Galilee by way of the Decapolis region. ¹⁵⁰

32Then they brought to Him a deaf man with thick speech ¹⁵¹and begged Him to place His hand on him.

33After taking him aside, away from the crowd, He put His fingers in his ears; He also spat and touched his tongue. ¹⁵²

34Then looking up to heaven He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!”

35Immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he began to speak clearly.

36Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He would command them, so much the more they would proclaim it. ¹⁵³

37People were astonished beyond measure, saying: “He has done everything well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”