AND the Pharisees, and some of the scribes, who came from Jerusalem, collected together around him. 2And seeing some of his disciples eating bread with hands unclean, that is, unwashed, they found fault. 3For the Pharisees and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands to the wrist, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. 4And coming from the market, unless they have washed, they never eat. And there are many other things which they have by tradition received to observe, as the washings of cups, and pots, and vessels of brass, and couches. 5Then the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, Why do not thy disciples walk conformable to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands? 6Then he answering said to them, Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you hypocrites, as it is written[12], “This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7Now vainly do they worship me, while teaching doctrines the commandments of men.” 8For leaving the command of God, ye adhere to the tradition of men, the washings of pots and cups; and many other such like things ye practise. 9And he said to them, Strangely do ye make void the command of God, that ye may observe your tradition. 10For Moses said[13], “Honour thy father and thy mother:” and “he that curseth father or mother, let him assuredly be put to death[14].” 11But ye affirm, If a man say to his father or mother, it is Corban (that is, a gift), which otherwise might have been advantageous to thee from me; 12then ye permit him no more to do any thing for his father, or his mother; 13abrogating the word of God by the tradition, which ye have transmitted down; and many such like things ye do.
14And he called to him all the multitude, and said unto them, hear me all of you, and understand. 15There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him, can make him unclean: but the things which come out from him, these are the things which make a man unclean. 16If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear. 17And when he was come into the house from the multitude, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. 18And he saith to them, Are ye also so defective of intelligence? Do you not consider, that every thing from without that entereth into a man, cannot make him unclean? 19because it entereth not into his heart, but into his belly, and goeth out into the vault, carrying off all the impurities of the food. 20But, said he, what cometh out of a man, that makes a man unclean. 21For from within out of the heart of men proceed wicked reasonings, adulteries, whoredoms, murders, 22thefts, inordinate cravings, mischievous actions, knavery, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, folly: 23all these wicked things come from within, and render a person unclean.
24And rising, he departed thence into the confines of Tyre and Sidon; and entering into a house, desired that no man should know it: yet he could not be hid. 25For a woman hearing of him, whose daughter had an unclean spirit, came and fell at his feet. 26The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by birth, and she entreated him that the devil might be cast out of her daughter. 27And Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be fed, for it is not proper to take the children’s bread, and throw it to the dogs. 28But she replied, and said to him, True, Lord, yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs. 29And he said unto her, For this speech, go home, the devil is gone out of thy daughter. 30And going to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid on a couch.
31And again departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 32And they bring him a deaf man, who could scarcely articulate; and they entreat him to put his hand upon him. 33And he took him aside out of the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and spitting, he touched his tongue; 34and looking up to heaven, he heaved a deep sigh, and saith unto him, Ephphatha! that is, Be opened. 35And instantly his ears were opened, and the tie of his tongue loosed, and he spake distinctly. 36And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged, the more abundantly they published it abroad. 37And they were astonished beyond all imagination, saying, He hath done all things admirably; he maketh even the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
[CHAP. VIII.]
IN those days the multitude being exceedingly great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus calling his disciples to him, said unto them, 2I have compassion on the multitude, for they have stayed with me already three days, and have nothing to eat: 3and if I send them away fasting to their houses, they will faint on the road; for many of them came from a great distance. 4His disciples answered him, Whence can a man here in the desert satisfy these with bread? 5And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. 6And he commanded the multitude to recline in order on the ground: and taking the seven loaves, having given thanks he brake them, and gave to his disciples, that they should set before the people; and they distributed them to the multitude. 7And they had a few small fishes; and blessing, he commanded to set these also before them. 8And they did eat and were filled and they took up what remained of the fragments, seven baskets. 9And the persons who had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away. 10And immediately going into the vessel with his disciples, he came into the coasts of Dalmanutha.
11Then the Pharisees came out, and began to question him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. 12And fetching a deep sigh from his very soul, he saith, Why seeketh this generation a sign? verily I tell you, no sign shall be given to this generation. 13And leaving them, going again on board the vessel, he departed to the other side.
14And they had forgotten to take bread, and had not with them in the vessel but a single loaf. 15And he earnestly charged them, saying, Beware, take heed of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. 16And they talked the matter over among themselves, saying, This is because we have no loaves of bread. 17And Jesus knowing it said unto them, Why reason ye together, because ye have no loaves? Do ye not yet consider, nor understand? Have ye your heart yet hardened? 18Having eyes, do ye not see? and having ears, do ye not hear? and do ye not remember? 19When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. 20And when the seven loaves among the four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They said, Seven. 21And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?
22And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring him a blind man, and entreat him that he would touch him. 23And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him without the city; and spitting on his eyes, he laid his hands upon him, and asked him if he saw aught. 24And looking up, he said, I see men walking, as trees. 25Then again he put his hands upon his eyes, and made him look up again: and he was entirely restored, and saw all men distinctly. 26And he sent him away unto his own house, saying, Neither enter thou into the city, nor speak to any in the city.
27And Jesus and his disciples went out into the towns of Cæsarea Philippi: and on the road he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Who do men say that I am? 28And they answered, John the Baptist: others say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets. 29And he said unto them, But who do ye say that I am? Then Peter answering, said unto him, Thou art the Messiah. 30And he strictly enjoined them, that they should tell no man of this.