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What contaminates a life?

The Pharisees and some legal experts from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus. They saw some of his disciples eating food with unclean hands. (They were eating without first ritually purifying their hands through washing. The Pharisees and all the Jews don’t eat without first washing their hands carefully. This is a way of observing the rules handed down by the elders. Upon returning from the marketplace, they don’t eat without first immersing themselves. They observe many other rules that have been handed down, such as the washing of cups, jugs, pans, and sleeping mats.) So the Pharisees and legal experts asked Jesus, “Why are your disciples not living according to the rules handed down by the elders but instead eat food with ritually unclean hands?”

He replied, “Isaiah really knew what he was talking about when he prophesied about you hypocrites. He wrote,

This people honors me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far away from me.
Their worship of me is empty
    since they teach instructions that are human words.[a]

You ignore God’s commandment while holding on to rules created by humans and handed down to you.” Jesus continued, “Clearly, you are experts at rejecting God’s commandment in order to establish these rules. 10 Moses said, Honor your father and your mother,[b] and The person who speaks against father or mother will certainly be put to death.[c] 11 But you say, ‘If you tell your father or mother, “Everything I’m expected to contribute to you is corban(that is, a gift I’m giving to God),” 12 then you are no longer required to care for your father or mother.’ 13 In this way you do away with God’s word in favor of the rules handed down to you, which you pass on to others. And you do a lot of other things just like that.”

14 Then Jesus called the crowd again and said, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand. 15 Nothing outside of a person can enter and contaminate a person in God’s sight; rather, the things that come out of a person contaminate the person.”[d]

17 After leaving the crowd, he entered a house where his disciples asked him about that riddle. 18 He said to them, “Don’t you understand either? Don’t you know that nothing from the outside that enters a person has the power to contaminate? 19 That’s because it doesn’t enter into the heart but into the stomach, and it goes out into the sewer.” By saying this, Jesus declared that no food could contaminate a person in God’s sight. 20 “It’s what comes out of a person that contaminates someone in God’s sight,” he said. 21 “It’s from the inside, from the human heart, that evil thoughts come: sexual sins, thefts, murders, 22 adultery, greed, evil actions, deceit, unrestrained immorality, envy, insults, arrogance, and foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from the inside and contaminate a person in God’s sight.”

An immigrant’s daughter is delivered

24 Jesus left that place and went into the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know that he had entered a house, but he couldn’t hide. 25 In fact, a woman whose young daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit heard about him right away. She came and fell at his feet. 26 The woman was Greek, Syrophoenician by birth. She begged Jesus to throw the demon out of her daughter. 27 He responded, “The children have to be fed first. It isn’t right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

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

29 “Good answer!” he said. “Go on home. The demon has already left your daughter.” 30 When she returned to her house, she found the child lying on the bed and the demon gone.

A deaf man is healed

31 After leaving the region of Tyre, Jesus went through Sidon toward the Galilee Sea through the region of the Ten Cities. 32 Some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly speak, and they begged him to place his hand on the man for healing. 33 Jesus took him away from the crowd by himself and put his fingers in the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 Looking into heaven, Jesus sighed deeply and said, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Open up.” 35 At once, his ears opened, his twisted tongue was released, and he began to speak clearly.

36 Jesus gave the people strict orders not to tell anyone. But the more he tried to silence them, the more eagerly they shared the news. 37 People were overcome with wonder, saying, “He does everything well! He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who can’t speak.”

Footnotes

  1. Mark 7:7 Isa 29:13
  2. Mark 7:10 Exod 20:12; Deut 5:16
  3. Mark 7:10 Exod 21:17; Lev 20:9
  4. Mark 7:15 7:16 is omitted in most critical editions of the Gk New Testament Whoever has ears to listen should pay attention!

· kai The ho Pharisees Pharisaios and kai some tis of the ho scribes grammateus who had come erchomai from apo Jerusalem Hierosolyma gathered synagō around pros Jesus autos and kai noticed that hoti some tis of ho his autos disciples mathētēs were eating esthiō the ho loaves artos with hands cheir that were defiled koinos, that houtos is eimi, unwashed aniptos. ( For gar the ho Pharisees Pharisaios and kai all pas the ho Jews Ioudaios do esthiō not ou eat esthiō unless ean mē they ceremonially pygmē wash niptō their ho hands cheir, thus maintaining krateō the ho tradition paradosis of the ho elders presbyteros. · kai They do esthiō not ou eat esthiō anything from apo the marketplace agora unless ean mē it is purified baptizō by washing . And kai there are eimi many polys other allos customs that hos they have received paralambanō as tradition to keep krateō, like the washing baptismos of cups potērion, · kai pots xestēs, · kai copper chalkion bowls , and kai dining klinē couches .) And kai the ho Pharisees Pharisaios and kai · ho scribes grammateus asked eperōtaō him autos, “ Why dia tis do your sy disciples mathētēs not ou walk peripateō · ho according kata to the ho tradition paradosis of the ho elders presbyteros, but alla eat esthiō their ho bread artos with defiled koinos hands cheir?” And de he ho said legō to them autos, “ Isaiah ēsaias prophesied prophēteuō accurately kalōs about peri you hymeis · ho hypocrites hypokritēs, as hōs it is written graphō: ‘ This houtos · ho people laos honors timaō me egō with their ho lips cheilos, · ho but de their autos heart kardia is apechō far porrō from apo me egō. In vain matēn · de do they worship sebō me egō, teaching didaskō as doctrines didaskalia the precepts entalma of men anthrōpos.’ Neglecting aphiēmi the ho command entolē of ho God theos, you maintain krateō the ho tradition paradosis of ho men anthrōpos.”

And kai he said legō to them autos, “You are clever kalōs at setting atheteō aside the ho command entolē of ho God theos in order hina to · ho establish histēmi your own hymeis tradition paradosis. 10 For gar Moses Mōysēs said legō, ‘ Honor timaō · ho your sy father patēr and kai · ho your sy mother mētēr,’ and kai, ‘ Whoever ho speaks kakologeō evil of father patēr or ē mother mētēr must be put teleutaō to death thanatos.’ 11 But de you hymeis say legō, ‘ If ean a man anthrōpos says legō to his ho father patēr or ē · ho mother mētēr, “ Whatever hos ean help you might have received ōpheleō from ek me egō is Corban korban” ( that hos is eimi, given dōron to God), 12 then you no ouketi longer allow aphiēmi him autos to do poieō anything oudeis for his ho father patēr or ē · ho mother mētēr. 13 Thus you invalidate akyroō the ho word logos of ho God theos with ho your hymeis tradition paradosis that hos you have handed paradidōmi down . And kai you do poieō many polys similar paromoios things toioutos.”

14 · kai Calling proskaleō the ho crowd ochlos to him again palin, he said legō to them autos, “ Listen akouō to me egō, everyone pas, and kai understand syniēmi. 15 There is eimi nothing oudeis from outside exōthen a ho man anthrōpos that enters eisporeuomai him autos that hos is able dynamai to defile koinoō him autos. Rather alla the ho things that come out ekporeuomai of ek a ho man anthrōpos are eimi the ho things that defile koinoō · ho him anthrōpos.”

17 And kai when hote Jesus entered eiserchomai eis the house oikos away apo from the ho crowd ochlos, his autos disciples mathētēs asked eperōtaō him autos · ho about the ho parable parabolē. 18 So kai he said legō to them autos, “ Are eimi you hymeis too kai so houtōs lacking asynetos in understanding ? Do you not ou know noeō that hoti whatever pas comes eisporeuomai into eis a man anthrōpos · ho from outside exōthen · ho is not ou able dynamai to defile koinoō him autos, 19 because hoti it does not ou enter eisporeuomai his autos · ho heart kardia, but alla his ho stomach koilia, and kai goes out ekporeuomai into eis the ho latrine aphedrōn?” ( Thus he declared katharizō all pas · ho foods brōma clean .) 20 And de he said legō, “ What ho comes out ekporeuomai of ek a ho person anthrōpos, that ekeinos is what defiles koinoō · ho him anthrōpos. 21 For gar from within esōthen, from ek the ho heart kardia of ho a person anthrōpos, come ekporeuomai evil kakos · ho plots dialogismos, · ho immoralities porneia, thefts klopē, murders phonos, 22 adulteries moicheia, greedy pleonexia actions , wicked ponēria deeds , deceit dolos, sensuality aselgeia, selfishness ophthalmos, slander blasphēmia, arrogance hyperēphania, lack of moral sense aphrosynē. 23 All pas these houtos · ho evil ponēros things come ekporeuomai from within esōthen, and kai they defile koinoō a ho person anthrōpos.”

24 From there ekeithen · de Jesus arose anistēmi and went aperchomai to eis the ho region horion of Tyre Tyros. · kai He entered eiserchomai a house oikia and wanted thelō no oudeis one to know ginōskō about it, yet kai he was not ou able dynamai to escape attention lanthanō. 25 But alla immediately after hearing akouō of peri him autos, a woman gynē whose hos daughter thugatrion had echō · ho an unclean akathartos spirit pneuma came erchomai and fell prospiptō at pros · ho his autos feet pous. 26 The ho · de woman gynē was eimi a Greek Hellēnis, a Syrophoenician Syrophoinikissa by ho birth genos. · kai She begged erōtaō Jesus autos to hina drive out ekballō the ho demon daimonion from ek · ho her autos daughter thugatēr. 27 · kai He said legō to her autos, “ Let aphiēmi the ho children teknon first prōton be fed chortazō, for gar it is eimi not ou right kalos to take lambanō the ho children’ s teknon bread artos · ho and kai throw ballō it to the ho dogs kynarion.” 28 · ho But de she answered apokrinomai him autos, · kai saying legō, “ Lord kyrios, even kai the ho dogs kynarion under hypokatō the ho table trapeza feed esthiō from apo the ho children’ s paidion crumbs psichion.” · ho 29 And kai he said legō to her autos, “ Because dia of this houtos · ho reply logos, you may go hypagō; the ho demon daimonion has left exerchomai · ho your sy daughter thugatēr.” 30 And kai when she arrived aperchomai at eis · ho her autos house oikos, she found heuriskō the ho child paidion lying ballō on epi the ho bed klinē, · kai the ho demon daimonion having departed exerchomai.

31 · kai Departing exerchomai again palin from ek the ho region horion of Tyre Tyros, Jesus went erchomai through dia Sidon Sidōn to eis the ho Sea thalassa of ho Galilee Galilaia, in ana the midst mesos of the ho region horion of the Decapolis Dekapolis. 32 And kai they brought pherō to him autos a deaf kōphos man · kai who could hardly speak mogilalos, and kai they begged parakaleō him autos to hina lay epitithēmi his ho hand cheir on him autos. 33 · kai Taking apolambanō him autos aside from apo the ho crowd ochlos privately kata idios, Jesus put ballō · ho his autos fingers daktylos into eis the ho man’ s autos ears ous, and kai after spitting ptyō, he touched haptō · ho his autos tongue glōssa. 34 · kai Looking anablepō up to eis · ho heaven ouranos, he gave a deep sigh stenazō and kai said legō to him autos, “ Ephphatha ephphatha!” ( that hos is eimi, “ Be opened dianoigō”). 35 And kai immediately eutheōs the man’ s autos ears akoē were opened anoigō, · ho · kai that ho which bound desmos his autos tongue glōssa was loosened lyō, · ho and kai he began to speak laleō clearly orthōs. 36 · kai Jesus ordered diastellō them autos to hina tell legō no one mēdeis, but de the more hosos he ordered diastellō them autos, the more perissoteros they autos spread kēryssō the news . 37 · kai They were absolutely hyperperissōs astonished ekplēssō, saying legō, “ He has done poieō all things pas well kalōs. · kai He makes poieō the ho deaf kōphos to hear akouō and kai the ho mute alalos to speak laleō!”