The Covenant Extended to All Who Obey

Psalm 67

The Nations Called to Praise God

To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.

Israel’s Rejection Is Not Final

11 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.^{(A) 2} God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?^(B)

²⁹ for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. ³⁰ Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience,^{(A) 31} so also they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they also may now^[a] receive mercy. ³² For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.^(B)

Things That Defile

¹⁰ Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand: ¹¹ it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.”^{(A) 12} Then the disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” ¹³ He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.^{(B) 14} Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind.^[a] And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.”^{(C) 15} But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.”^{(D) 16} Then he said, “Are you also still without understanding?^{(E) 17} Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach and goes out into the sewer? ¹⁸ But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles.^{(F) 19} For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.^{(G) 20} These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.”

The Canaanite Woman’s Faith

²¹ Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. ²² Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.”^{(H) 23} But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” ²⁴ He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”^{(I) 25} But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”^{(J) 26} He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” ²⁷ She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’^[b] table.” ²⁸ Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that moment.^(K)