Matthew 15:15-28

New International Version

¹⁵ Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”^(A)

¹⁶ “Are you still so dull?”^(B) Jesus asked them. ¹⁷ “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? ¹⁸ But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart,^(C) and these defile them. ¹⁹ For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.^{(D) 20} These are what defile a person;^(E) but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman^(F)

²¹ Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.^{(G) 22} A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David,^(H) have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”^(I)

²³ Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

²⁴ He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”^(J)

²⁵ The woman came and knelt before him.^(K) “Lord, help me!” she said.

²⁶ He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

²⁷ “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

²⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith!^(L) Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.