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Matthew 14:34-15:20
New International Version
Matthew 14:34-15:20
New International Version
34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak,(A) and all who touched it were healed.
That Which Defiles(B)
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!”(C)
3 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’[a](D) and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’[b](E) 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 ‘honor 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:
8 “‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
9 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.(F)’[c](G)”
10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them,(H) but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”(I)
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(J) will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Leave them; they are blind guides.[d](K) If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”(L)
15 Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”(M)
16 “Are you still so dull?”(N) 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,(O) and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.(P) 20 These are what defile a person;(Q) but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 15:4 Exodus 20:12; Deut. 5:16
- Matthew 15:4 Exodus 21:17; Lev. 20:9
- Matthew 15:9 Isaiah 29:13
- Matthew 15:14 Some manuscripts blind guides of the blind
Matthew 14:34-15:20
King James Version
Matthew 14:34-15:20
King James Version
34 And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.
35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;
36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
15 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.
16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
Matthew 14:34-15:20
New King James Version
Matthew 14:34-15:20
New King James Version
Many Touch Him and Are Made Well(A)
34 (B)When they had crossed over, they came [a]to the land of Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, 36 and begged Him that they might only (C)touch the hem of His garment. And (D)as many as touched it were made perfectly well.
Defilement Comes from Within(E)
15 Then (F)the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 (G)“Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, (H)‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, (I)‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, (J)“Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— 6 then he need not honor his father [b]or mother.’ Thus you have made the [c]commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 (K)Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 ‘These(L) people [d]draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me,
(M)Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”
10 (N)When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 (O)Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
13 But He answered and said, (P)“Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone. (Q)They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
15 (R)Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”
16 So Jesus said, (S)“Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand that (T)whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But (U)those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 (V)For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 14:34 NU to land at
- Matthew 15:6 NU omits or mother
- Matthew 15:6 NU word
- Matthew 15:8 NU omits draw near to Me with their mouth, And
Matthew 14:34-15:20
English Standard Version
Matthew 14:34-15:20
English Standard Version
Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret
34 (A)And when they had crossed over, they came to land at (B)Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and (C)brought to him all who were sick 36 and implored him that they might only touch (D)the fringe of his garment. And (E)as many as touched it were made well.
Traditions and Commandments
15 (F)Then Pharisees and (G)scribes came to Jesus (H)from Jerusalem and said, 2 (I)“Why do your disciples break (J)the tradition of the elders? (K)For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” 3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, (L)‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, (M)‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,”[a] 6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have (N)made void the word[b] of God. 7 (O)You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:
8 (P)“‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
9 in vain do they worship me,
teaching as (Q)doctrines the commandments of men.’”
What Defiles a Person
10 And he called the people to him and said to them, (R)“Hear and understand: 11 (S)it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were (T)offended when they heard this saying?” 13 He answered, (U)“Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted (V)will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; (W)they are blind guides.[c] And (X)if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter said to him, (Y)“Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, (Z)“Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that (AA)whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled?[d] 18 But (AB)what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come (AC)evil thoughts, (AD)murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, (AE)slander. 20 (AF)These are what defile a person. But (AG)to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 15:5 Or is an offering
- Matthew 15:6 Some manuscripts law
- Matthew 15:14 Some manuscripts add of the blind
- Matthew 15:17 Greek is expelled into the latrine
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.