傳統與誡命

有法利賽人和一些律法教師從耶路撒冷來見耶穌。 他們看到祂的門徒有些吃飯前沒有照禮儀洗手。 因為法利賽人和所有的猶太人都拘守古人的傳統,總是先照禮儀洗手之後才吃飯; 從市場回來也要先潔淨自己,然後才吃飯。他們還拘守許多其他規矩,如洗杯、罐、銅器等。

他們質問耶穌:「為什麼你的門徒違背祖先的傳統,竟用不潔淨的手吃飯呢?」

耶穌回答說:「以賽亞先知針對你們這些偽君子所說的預言一點不錯,正如聖經上說,

『這些人嘴上尊崇我,
心卻遠離我。
他們的教導無非是人的規條,
他們敬拜我也是枉然。』

你們只知拘守人的傳統,卻無視上帝的誡命。」 耶穌又對他們說:「你們為了拘守自己的傳統,竟巧妙地廢除了上帝的誡命。 10 摩西說,『要孝敬父母』,又說,『咒罵父母的,必被處死。』 11 你們卻認為人若對父母說,『我把供養你們的錢財已經全部奉獻給上帝了』, 12 他就可以不奉養父母。 13 你們就是這樣為了拘守傳統而廢除上帝的道,類似的情形還有很多。」

內心的污穢

14 耶穌又召集眾人,教導他們說:「我的話,你們要聽明白, 15 從外面進去的不會使人污穢,只有從人裡面發出來的才會使人污穢。 16 有耳可聽的,都應當聽!」

17 耶穌離開眾人,進了屋子,門徒問祂這比喻的意思。 18 耶穌說:「你們也不明白嗎?你們不知道嗎?從外面進去的,不會使人污穢, 19 因為不能進入他的心,只能進他的腸胃,最後會排出來,也就是說所有的食物都是潔淨的。 20 從人裡面發出來的才使人污穢, 21 因為從裡面,就是從人的心裡能夠生出惡念、苟合、偷盜、謀殺、 22 通姦、貪婪、邪惡、詭詐、放蕩、嫉妒、毀謗、驕傲、狂妄。 23 這一切惡事都是從裡面生出來的,能使人污穢。」

外族婦人的信心

24 耶穌從那裡啟程去泰爾和西頓地區。祂進了一戶人家,原本不想讓人知道,卻無法避開人們的注意。 25-26 當時有一個婦人的小女兒被污鬼附身,她聽見耶穌的事,就來俯伏在祂腳前,懇求祂趕出她女兒身上的鬼。這婦人是希臘人,來自敘利亞的腓尼基。

27 耶穌對她說:「要先讓兒女們吃飽,因為把兒女的食物丟給狗吃不合適。」

28 婦人說:「主啊,你說的對,但桌子下的狗也吃孩子們掉下來的碎渣呀!」

29 耶穌說:「因為你這句話,你回去吧,鬼已經離開你的女兒了。」

30 她回到家裡,見女兒躺在床上,鬼已經離開了。

醫治聾啞的人

31 耶穌離開泰爾地區,經過西頓,來到低加坡里地區的加利利湖。 32 有人帶著一個又聾又啞的人來見耶穌,懇求祂把手按在這個人身上。 33 耶穌就帶他離開眾人走到一邊,用指頭伸進他的耳朵,又吐唾沫抹他的舌頭, 34 望天長歎,對他說:「以法大!」意思是「開了吧!」 35 他的耳朵立刻開了,舌頭靈活了,說話也清楚了。 36 耶穌吩咐他們不要將這事告訴人。可是耶穌越是這樣吩咐,他們越是極力宣揚, 37 聽見的人都十分驚奇,說:「祂做的事好極了,甚至叫聾子聽見,啞巴說話!」

不可因傳統廢棄 神的誡命(A)

有法利賽人和幾個經學家從耶路撒冷來,聚集到耶穌那裡。 他們看見他的門徒有人用不潔的手,就是沒有洗過的手吃飯, (原來法利賽人和所有的猶太人都拘守古人的傳統,如果不認真洗手,就不吃東西; 從街市回來,若不洗手,就不吃東西,還有許多別的傳統,他們都沿襲拘守,例如洗杯、洗罐、洗銅器等等。) 法利賽人和經學家問耶穌:“你的門徒為甚麼不遵行古人的傳統,用不潔的手吃飯呢?” 耶穌對他們說:“以賽亞指著你們這班偽君子所說的預言是對的,經上記著:

‘這人民用嘴唇尊敬我,

心卻遠離我;

他們把人的規條當作道理去教導人,

所以拜我也是徒然。’

你們拘守著人的傳統,卻離棄了 神的誡命。” 耶穌又對他們說:“你們為了堅守自己的傳統,而巧妙地把 神的誡命拒絕了。 10 因為摩西說:‘當孝敬父母’,又說:‘咒罵父母的,必被處死。’ 11 你們倒說:‘人對父母說,我應該給你的供奉,已經作了各耳板’(各耳板意思是奉給 神的供物), 12 你們就不讓那人再為父母作甚麼。 13 這樣,你們藉著所領受的傳統,把 神的話廢棄了。你們還作了許多這一類的事。”

14 於是耶穌又把群眾叫過來,對他們說:“你們大家都要聽我說,也要明白: 15 從外面進去的,不能使人污穢,從裡面出來的,才能使人污穢。”(有些抄本有第16節:“有耳可聽的,就應該聽。”) 17 耶穌離開群眾,進了屋子,門徒就來問他這比喻的意思。 18 他對他們說:“連你們也是這樣不明白嗎?難道不知道從外面進去的,不能使人污穢嗎? 19 因為不是進到他的心,而是進到他的肚腹,再排泄到外面(“外面”或譯:“廁所”)去。”(他這樣說是表示各樣食物都是潔淨的。) 20 接著他又說:“從人裡面出來的,才會使人污穢。 21 因為從裡面,就是從人的心裡,發出惡念、淫亂、偷盜、兇殺、 22 姦淫、貪心、邪惡、詭詐、放蕩、嫉妒、毀謗、驕傲、愚妄; 23 這一切惡事,是從人裡面出來的,都能使人污穢。”

敘利亞婦人的信心(B)

24 耶穌從那裡動身到推羅(有些抄本在此有“和西頓”)境內去。進了一所房子,本來不想讓人知道,卻隱藏不住。 25 有一個女人,她的小女兒被污靈附著,她聽見了耶穌的事,就來俯伏在他腳前。 26 這女人是外族人,屬於敘利亞的腓尼基族。她求耶穌把鬼從她女兒身上趕出去。 27 耶穌對她說:“應該先讓兒女吃飽。拿兒女的餅去丟給小狗吃是不好的。” 28 那女人回答他:“主啊,是的,不過小狗在桌子底下,也可以吃孩子們掉下來的碎渣。” 29 耶穌對她說:“就憑這句話,你回去吧,鬼已經從你女兒身上出去了。” 30 她回到家裡,看見小孩子躺在床上,鬼已經出去了。

治好又聾又啞的人(C)

31 耶穌從推羅境內出去,經過西頓,回到低加波利地區的加利利海。 32 有人帶著一個又聾又啞的人到他那裡,求耶穌按手在他身上。 33 耶穌把他從人群中帶到一邊,用指頭探他的耳朵,吐唾沫抹他的舌頭, 34 然後望著天,長長地歎了一口氣,對他說:“以法大!”意思是“開了吧”。 35 那人的耳朵就開了,舌頭也鬆了,說話也準確了。 36 耶穌囑咐他們不要告訴人。但他越是囑咐,他們卻越發傳揚。 37 眾人非常驚訝說:“他所作的一切事都好極了;他竟然使聾子聽見,又使啞巴說話。”

Jesus Challenges the Pharisees’ Traditions(A)

The Pharisees and some experts in Moses’ Teachings who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus. They saw that some of his disciples were unclean [a] because they ate without washing their hands.

(The Pharisees, like all other Jewish people, don’t eat unless they have properly washed their hands. They follow the traditions of their ancestors. When they come from the marketplace, they don’t eat unless they have washed first. They have been taught to follow many other rules. For example, they must also wash their cups, jars, brass pots, and dinner tables.[b])

The Pharisees and the experts in Moses’ Teachings asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples follow the traditions taught by our ancestors? They are unclean because they don’t wash their hands before they eat!”

Jesus told them, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites in Scripture:

‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me is pointless,
because their teachings are rules made by humans.’

“You abandon the commandments of God to follow human traditions.” He added, “You have no trouble rejecting the commandments of God in order to keep your own traditions! 10 For example, Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother must be put to death.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a person tells his father or mother that whatever he might have used to help them is corban (that is, an offering to God), 12 he no longer has to do anything for his father or mother.’ 13 Because of your traditions you have destroyed the authority of God’s word. And you do many other things like that.”

14 Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and try to understand! 15 Nothing that goes into a person from the outside can make him unclean. It’s what comes out of a person that makes him unclean. 16 Let the person who has ears listen!” [c]

17 When he had left the people and gone home, his disciples asked him about this illustration.

18 Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand? Don’t you know that whatever goes into a person from the outside can’t make him unclean? 19 It doesn’t go into his thoughts but into his stomach and then into a toilet.” (By saying this, Jesus declared all foods acceptable.) 20 He continued, “It’s what comes out of a person that makes him unclean. 21 Evil thoughts, sexual sins, stealing, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, cheating, shameless lust, envy, cursing, arrogance, and foolishness come from within a person. 23 All these evils come from within and make a person unclean.”

The Faith of a Greek Woman(B)

24 Jesus left that place and went to the territory of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know that he was staying in a house there. However, it couldn’t be kept a secret.

25 A woman whose little daughter had an evil spirit heard about Jesus. She went to him and bowed down. 26 The woman happened to be Greek, born in Phoenicia in Syria. She asked him to force the demon out of her daughter.

27 Jesus said to her, “First, let the children eat all they want. It’s not right to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”

28 She answered him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat some of the children’s scraps.”

29 Jesus said to her, “Because you have said this, go! The demon has left your daughter.”

30 The woman went home and found the little child lying on her bed, and the demon was gone.

Jesus Cures a Deaf Man

31 Jesus then left the neighborhood of Tyre. He went through Sidon and the territory of the Ten Cities [d] to the Sea of Galilee.

32 Some people brought to him a man who was deaf and who also had a speech defect. They begged Jesus to lay his hand on him. 33 Jesus took him away from the crowd to be alone with him. He put his fingers into the man’s ears, and after spitting, he touched the man’s tongue. 34 Then he looked up to heaven, sighed, and said to the man, “Ephphatha!” which means, “Be opened!” 35 At once the man could hear and talk normally.

36 Jesus ordered the people not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them, the more they spread the news. 37 Jesus completely amazed the people. They said, “He has done everything well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute talk.”

Footnotes

  1. 7:2 Unclean   ” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.
  2. 7:4 Some manuscripts and translations omit “and dinner tables.”
  3. 7:16 Some manuscripts and translations omit this verse.
  4. 7:31 A federation of ten Greek city states east and west of the Jordan River.

That Which Defiles(A)

The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled,(B) that is, unwashed. (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.(C) When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.[a])(D)

So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders(E) instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”

He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

“‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
    their teachings are merely human rules.’[b](F)

You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”(G)

And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe[c] your own traditions!(H) 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’[d](I) and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’[e](J) 11 But you say(K) that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— 12 then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God(L) by your tradition(M) that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”

14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” [16] [f]

17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him(N) about this parable. 18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19 For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods(O) clean.)(P)

20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed,(Q) malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

Jesus Honors a Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith(R)

24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre.[g](S) He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. 25 In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit(T) came and fell at his feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

27 “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

28 “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

29 Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”

30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Jesus Heals a Deaf and Mute Man(U)

31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre(V) and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee(W) and into the region of the Decapolis.[h](X) 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk,(Y) and they begged Jesus to place his hand on(Z) him.

33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit(AA) and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven(AB) and with a deep sigh(AC) said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.(AD)

36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone.(AE) But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Footnotes

  1. Mark 7:4 Some early manuscripts pitchers, kettles and dining couches
  2. Mark 7:7 Isaiah 29:13
  3. Mark 7:9 Some manuscripts set up
  4. Mark 7:10 Exodus 20:12; Deut. 5:16
  5. Mark 7:10 Exodus 21:17; Lev. 20:9
  6. Mark 7:16 Some manuscripts include here the words of 4:23.
  7. Mark 7:24 Many early manuscripts Tyre and Sidon
  8. Mark 7:31 That is, the Ten Cities