Mark 7:9-23

New King James Version

⁹ He said to them, “All too well ^(A)you ^[a]reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. ¹⁰ For Moses said, ^(B)‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ^(C)‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ ¹¹ But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, ^(D)“Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), ¹² then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, ¹³ making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

^14 (E)When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and ^(F)understand: ¹⁵ There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that ^(G)defile a man. ^16 (H)If^[b] anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”

^17 (I)When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. ¹⁸ So He said to them, ^(J)“Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, ¹⁹ because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, ^[c]thus purifying all foods?” ²⁰ And He said, ^(K)“What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. ^21 (L)For from within, out of the heart of men, ^(M)proceed evil thoughts, ^(N)adulteries, ^(O)fornications, murders, ²² thefts, ^(P)covetousness, wickedness, ^(Q)deceit, ^(R)lewdness, an evil eye, ^(S)blasphemy, ^(T)pride, foolishness. ²³ All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”