Chapter 7

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

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

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

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  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.)  

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  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?'  

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  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.  

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  But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'  

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  '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.'  

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

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  For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother;' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.'  

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  But you say, 'If a man will tell his father or his mother, 'Whatever you might have been profited by me is Corban, that is to say, given to God;''  

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

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

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

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  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.  

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  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!'  

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

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

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  because it doesn't go into his heart, but into his belly, and into the latrine, thus making all foods clean?'  

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

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

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

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  All these evil things proceed from within, and defile the man.'  

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  From there he arose, and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He entered into a house, and wanted no one to know it, but he couldn't escape detection.  

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

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

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  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.'  

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  But she answered him, 'Yes, Lord. For even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.'  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  Immediately his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke clearly.  

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

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

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