Matthew 15:1-28

Traditions and Commandments

1  a Then Pharisees and b scribes came to Jesus c from Jerusalem and said, 2  d “Why do your disciples break e the tradition of the elders? f For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” 3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded g ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and h ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” ▼
▼ Or  is an offering
 6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have j made void the word ▼
▼ Some manuscripts law
 of God. 7  l You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:

8  m “‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
 9 in vain do they worship me,
teaching as n doctrines the commandments of men.’”

What Defiles a Person

10 And he called the people to him and said to them, o “Hear and understand: 11  p it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were q offended when they heard this saying?” 13 He answered, r “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted s will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; t they are blind guides. ▼
▼ Some manuscripts add of the blind
 And v if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter said to him w “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, x “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that y whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? ▼
▼ Greek  is expelled into the latrine
 18 But aa what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come ab evil thoughts ac murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness ad slander. 20  ae These are what defile a person. But af to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman

21  ag And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold ah a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying ai “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying aj “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, ak “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and al knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and am throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat an the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman ao great is your faith! ap Be it done for you as you desire.” aq And her daughter was ar healed instantly. ▼
▼ Greek from that hour

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