Matthew 14:22-15:28

New International Version - UK

Jesus walks on the water

²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴ and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear.

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’

²⁸ ‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’

²⁹ ‘Come,’ he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’

³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’

³⁴ When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. ³⁵ And when the men of that place recognised Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all who were ill to him ³⁶ and begged him to let those who were ill just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

That which defiles

15 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, ² ‘Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!’

³ Jesus replied, ‘And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? ⁴ For God said, “Honour your father and mother”^[a] and “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.”^{[b] 5} But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is “devoted to God,” ⁶ they are not to “honour their father or mother” with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. ⁷ You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:

¹⁰ Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen and understand. ¹¹ What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.’

¹² Then the disciples came to him and asked, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?’

¹³ He replied, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. ¹⁴ Leave them; they are blind guides.^[d] If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.’

¹⁵ Peter said, ‘Explain the parable to us.’

¹⁶ ‘Are you still so dull?’ Jesus asked them. ¹⁷ ‘Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? ¹⁸ But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. ¹⁹ For out of the heart come evil thoughts – murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. ²⁰ These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.’

The faith of a Canaanite woman

²¹ Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²² A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.’

²³ Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, ‘Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.’

²⁴ He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.’

²⁵ The woman came and knelt before him. ‘Lord, help me!’ she said.

²⁶ He replied, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.’

²⁷ ‘Yes it is, Lord,’ she said. ‘Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.’

²⁸ Then Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.’ And her daughter was healed at that moment.