Human Traditions and God’s Commandments

And the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered to him. And they saw that some of his disciples were eating their[a] bread with unclean—that is, unwashed—hands. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands ritually,[b] thus[c] holding fast to the traditions of the elders. And when they come[d] from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions[e] which they have received and[f] hold fast to—for example,[g] the washing of cups and pitchers and bronze kettles and dining couches.)[h] And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their[i] bread with unclean hands?” So he said to them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written,

‘This people honors me with their[j] lips,
    but their heart is far, far away from me.
And they worship me in vain,
    teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’[k]

Abandoning the commandment of God, you hold fast to the tradition of men.”

And he said to them, “You splendidly ignore the commandment of God so that you can keep[l] your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’[m] and, ‘The one who speaks evil of father or mother must certainly die[n].’[o] 11 But you say, ‘If a man says to his[p] father or to his[q] mother, “Whatever benefit you would have received[r] from me is corban[s] (that is, a gift to God), 12 you no longer permit him to do anything for his[t] father or his[u] mother, 13 thus[v] making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down, and you do many similar things such as this.”

Defilement from Within

14 And summoning the crowd again, he said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing outside of a person that is able to defile him by[w] going into him. But the things that go out of a person are the things that defile a person.”[x] 17 And when he entered into the house away from the crowd, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, “So are you also without understanding? Do you not understand that everything that is outside that goes into a person is not able to defile him? 19 For it does not enter into his heart but into his[y] stomach, and goes out into the latrine”—thus[z] declaring all foods clean. 20 And he said, “What comes out of a person, that defiles a person. 21 For from within, from the heart of people, come evil plans, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, 22 adulteries, acts of greed, malicious deeds, deceit, licentiousness, envy,[aa] abusive speech, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a person.”

A Syrophoenician Woman’s Great Faith

24 And from there he set out and[ab] went to the region of Tyre. And when he[ac] entered into a house, he wanted no one to know, and yet he was not able to escape notice. 25 But immediately a woman whose young daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit, when she[ad] heard about him, came and[ae] fell down at his feet, 26 Now the woman was a Greek—a Syrophoenician by nationality—and she was asking him that he would expel the demon from her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it[af] to the dogs!” 28 But she answered and said to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “Because of this statement, go! The demon has gone out of your daughter.” 30 And when she[ag] went to her home, she found the child lying on the bed and the demon gone.

A Man Deaf and Unable to Speak Healed

31 And again he went away from the region of Tyre and[ah] came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, within the region of the Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had difficulty speaking, and they were imploring him that he would place his[ai] hand on him. 33 And he took him away from the crowd by himself and[aj] put his fingers into his ears, and after[ak] spitting, he touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”). 35 And[al] his ears were opened and his difficulty in speaking was removed[am] and he began to speak normally. 36 And he ordered them that they should say nothing, but as much as he ordered them not to, they proclaimed it[an] even more instead. 37 And they were amazed beyond all measure, saying, “He has done all things well! He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak!”

Footnotes

  1. Mark 7:2 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  2. Mark 7:3 Literally “with the fist”; although the exact meaning of the phrase is uncertain, there is general agreement it has to do with the ritual or ceremonial nature of the handwashing
  3. Mark 7:3 Here “thus” is supplied as a component of the participle (“holding fast to”) which is understood as result
  4. Mark 7:4 The phrase “when they come” is not in the Greek text but is implied
  5. Mark 7:4 The word “traditions” is not in the Greek text but is implied
  6. Mark 7:4 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“have received”) has been translated as a finite verb
  7. Mark 7:4 The phrase “for example” is not in the Greek text but is supplied as a clarification in the English translation
  8. Mark 7:4 Several important manuscripts omit “and dining couches”
  9. Mark 7:5 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  10. Mark 7:6 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  11. Mark 7:7 A quotation from Isa 29:13
  12. Mark 7:9 Some manuscripts have “you can maintain”
  13. Mark 7:10 A quotation from Exod 20:12; Deut 5:16
  14. Mark 7:10 Literally “let him die the death”
  15. Mark 7:10 A quotation from Exod 21:17; Lev 20:9
  16. Mark 7:11 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  17. Mark 7:11 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  18. Mark 7:11 Literally “you would have been benefited”
  19. Mark 7:11 A Hebrew term referring to something consecrated as a gift to God and thus not available for ordinary use
  20. Mark 7:12 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  21. Mark 7:12 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  22. Mark 7:13 Here “thus” is supplied as a component of the participle (“making void”) which is understood as result
  23. Mark 7:15 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“going”) which is understood as means
  24. Mark 7:15 Most later manuscripts add v. 16, “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
  25. Mark 7:19 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  26. Mark 7:19 Here “thus” is supplied as a component of the participle (“declaring”) which is understood as result
  27. Mark 7:22 Literally “the evil eye”
  28. Mark 7:24 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“set out”) has been translated as a finite verb
  29. Mark 7:24 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“entered”) which is understood as temporal
  30. Mark 7:25 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
  31. Mark 7:25 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came”) has been translated as a finite verb
  32. Mark 7:27 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  33. Mark 7:30 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“went”) which is understood as temporal
  34. Mark 7:31 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went away”) has been translated as a finite verb
  35. Mark 7:32 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  36. Mark 7:33 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“took … away”) has been translated as a finite verb
  37. Mark 7:33 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“spitting”) which is understood as temporal
  38. Mark 7:35 Some manuscripts have “And immediately”
  39. Mark 7:35 Literally “the bond of his tongue was loosened”
  40. Mark 7:36 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

Defilement Comes from Within(A)

Then (B)the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. Now [a]when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with (C)unwashed hands, [b]they found fault. For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands [c]in a special way, holding the (D)tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.

(E)Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”

He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you (F)hypocrites, as it is written:

(G)‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—[d]the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”

He said to them, All too well (H)you [e]reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, (I)‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, (J)‘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, (K)“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 (L)When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and (M)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 (N)defile a man. 16 (O)If[f] anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”

17 (P)When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. 18 So He said to them, (Q)“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, [g]thus purifying all foods?” 20 And He said, (R)“What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 (S)For from within, out of the heart of men, (T)proceed evil thoughts, (U)adulteries, (V)fornications, murders, 22 thefts, (W)covetousness, wickedness, (X)deceit, (Y)lewdness, an evil eye, (Z)blasphemy, (AA)pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

A Gentile Shows Her Faith(AB)

24 (AC)From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre [h]and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be (AD)hidden. 25 For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and (AE)fell at His feet. 26 The woman was a [i]Greek, a [j]Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept [k]asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”

28 And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.”

29 Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.”

30 And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.

Jesus Heals a Deaf-Mute(AF)

31 (AG)Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. 32 Then (AH)they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. 33 And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and (AI)He spat and touched his tongue. 34 Then, (AJ)looking up to heaven, (AK)He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”

35 (AL)Immediately his ears were opened, and the [l]impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. 36 Then (AM)He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it. 37 And they were (AN)astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He (AO)makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

Footnotes

  1. Mark 7:2 NU omits when
  2. Mark 7:2 NU omits they found fault
  3. Mark 7:3 Lit. with the fist
  4. Mark 7:8 NU omits the rest of v. 8.
  5. Mark 7:9 set aside
  6. Mark 7:16 NU omits v. 16.
  7. Mark 7:19 NU sets off the final phrase as Mark’s comment that Jesus has declared all foods clean.
  8. Mark 7:24 NU omits and Sidon
  9. Mark 7:26 Gentile
  10. Mark 7:26 A Syrian of Phoenicia
  11. Mark 7:26 begging
  12. Mark 7:35 Lit. bond

Lo que contamina al hombre(A)

Los fariseos y algunos de los escribas, que habían venido de Jerusalén, se acercaron a Jesús y vieron que algunos de sus discípulos comían pan con manos impuras, es decir, sin habérselas lavado. (Los fariseos, y todos los judíos, viven aferrados a la tradición de los ancianos, de modo que, si no se lavan las manos muchas veces, no comen. Cuando vuelven del mercado, no comen si antes no se lavan. Y conservan también muchas otras tradiciones, como el lavar los vasos en que beben, los jarros, los utensilios de metal, y las camas.) Entonces los fariseos y los escribas le preguntaron a Jesús: «¿Por qué tus discípulos no siguen la tradición de los ancianos, sino que comen pan con manos impuras?» Jesús les respondió: «¡Hipócritas! Bien profetizó de ustedes Isaías, cuando escribió:

»“Este pueblo me honra con los labios,
pero su corazón está lejos de mí.
No tiene sentido que me honren,
si sus enseñanzas son mandamientos humanos.”(B)

Porque ustedes dejan de lado el mandamiento de Dios, y se aferran a la tradición de los hombres.» [Es decir, al lavamiento de jarros y de vasos para beber, y a muchas otras cosas semejantes.][a]

También les dijo: «¡Qué bien invalidan ustedes el mandamiento de Dios, para mantener su propia tradición! 10 Porque Moisés dijo: “Honra a tu padre y a tu madre”,(C) y también: “El que maldiga al padre o a la madre, morirá irremisiblemente.”(D) 11 Pero ustedes dicen: “Basta que alguien diga al padre o a la madre: ‘Todo aquello con que podría ayudarte es Corbán’ (es decir, mi ofrenda a Dios)”, 12 y con eso ustedes ya no permiten que nadie ayude más a su padre o a su madre. 13 Es así como ustedes invalidan la palabra de Dios con la tradición que se han transmitido, además de que hacen muchas otras cosas parecidas.»

14 Jesús volvió a llamar a toda la gente, y les dijo: «Escúchenme todos, y entiendan: 15 Nada que venga de afuera puede contaminar a nadie. Lo que contamina a la persona es lo que sale de ella.» 16 [Si alguno tiene oídos para oír, que oiga.][b] 17 Cuando entró en la casa, luego de alejarse de la multitud, sus discípulos le preguntaron acerca de la parábola. 18 Jesús les dijo: «¿Tampoco ustedes pueden entender esto? ¿Acaso no entienden que nada que venga de afuera y entre en alguien puede contaminarlo? 19 Porque eso no entra en su corazón, sino en su vientre, y al final va a parar en la letrina.» Con esto Jesús estaba diciendo que todos los alimentos son limpios, 20 aunque también decía que lo que contamina es lo que sale de la persona. 21 Porque de adentro del corazón humano salen los malos pensamientos, la inmoralidad sexual, los robos, los homicidios, 22 los adulterios, las avaricias, las maldades, el engaño, la lujuria, la envidia, la calumnia, la soberbia y la insensatez. 23 Todos estos males vienen de adentro y contaminan a la persona.

La fe de la mujer sirofenicia(E)

24 De allí Jesús se fue a la región de Tiro y de Sidón. Llegó a una casa y trató de que nadie lo supiera, pero no pudo esconderse 25 porque, tan pronto como una mujer, cuya hija tenía un espíritu impuro, supo que él había llegado, fue a su encuentro y se arrojó a sus pies. 26 Esa mujer era griega, de nacionalidad sirofenicia, y le rogaba que expulsara de su hija al demonio; 27 pero Jesús le dijo: «Primero deja que los hijos queden satisfechos, porque no está bien quitarles a los hijos su pan y echárselo a los perritos.» 28 La mujer le respondió: «Es verdad, Señor. Pero hasta los perritos comen debajo de la mesa las migajas que dejan caer los hijos.» 29 Entonces Jesús le dijo: «Por esto que has dicho, puedes irte tranquila; el demonio ya ha salido de tu hija.» 30 Cuando la mujer llegó a su casa, encontró a su hija acostada en la cama, y el demonio ya había salido de ella.

Jesús sana a un sordo

31 Jesús volvió a salir de la región de Tiro, y fue por Sidón al lago de Galilea, pasando por la región de Decápolis. 32 Le llevaron allí a un sordo y tartamudo, y le rogaban que pusiera la mano sobre él. 33 Jesús lo apartó de la gente, le metió los dedos en las orejas y, con su saliva, le tocó la lengua; 34 luego levantó los ojos al cielo, y lanzando un suspiro le dijo: «¡Efata!», es decir, «¡Ábrete!» 35 Al instante se le abrieron los oídos y se le destrabó la lengua, de modo que comenzó a hablar bien. 36 Jesús les mandó que no contaran esto a nadie, pero mientras más se lo prohibía, ellos más y más lo divulgaban. 37 La gente estaba muy asombrada, y decía: «Todo lo hace bien. Hasta puede hacer que los sordos oigan y que los mudos hablen.»

Footnotes

  1. Marcos 7:8 El texto que aparece entre corchetes se halla sólo en mss. tardíos.
  2. Marcos 7:16 El texto que aparece entre corchetes se halla sólo en mss. tardíos.