Rewards for Obedience to God

Tradition and Commandment

15 ^(A)Then some Pharisees and scribes *came to Jesus ^(B)from Jerusalem and said, ² “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they ^(C)do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” ³ And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves also break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? ⁴ For God said, ‘^(D)Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘^(E)The one who speaks evil of father or mother is to ^[a]be put to death.’ ⁵ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you has been ^[b]given to God,” ⁶ he is not to ^[c]honor his father or mother.’ And by this you have invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. ⁷ You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy about you, by saying:

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman

^21 (A)Jesus went away from there, and withdrew into the region of ^(B)Tyre and ^(C)Sidon. ²² And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, ^(D)Son of David; my daughter is severely ^(E)demon-possessed.” ²³ But He did not answer her with even a word. And His disciples came up and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting ^[a]at us!” ²⁴ But He answered and said, “I was sent only to ^(F)the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” ²⁵ But she came and ^(G)began ^[b]to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” ²⁶ Yet He answered and said, “It is not ^[c]good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” ²⁷ And she said, “Yes, Lord; but please help, for even the dogs feed on the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” ²⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, ^(H)your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed ^[d]at once.