New Testament in a Year

¹⁴ When He had called all the people to Him, He said, “Listen to Me, every one of you, and understand: ¹⁵ There is nothing from outside a man that by entering him can defile him. But the things which come out of the man are what defile him. ¹⁶ If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

¹⁷ When He had left the people and entered the house, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. ¹⁸ He said to them, “Are you so without understanding also? Do you not know that anything from the outside that enters a man cannot defile him, ¹⁹ because it does not enter his heart, but into his stomach, and goes out into the sewer, thus purifying all foods?”

²⁰ And He said, “What comes out of a man is what defiles a man. ²¹ For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adultery, fornication, murder, ²² theft, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride and foolishness. ²³ All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

The Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith^(A)

²⁴ From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. He entered a house and would have no one know it. Yet He could not be hidden. ²⁵ For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of Him, and came and fell at His feet. ²⁶ The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. And she begged Him to cast the demon out of her daughter.

²⁷ Jesus said to her, “Let the children first be filled. For it is not fitting to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

²⁸ She answered, “Yes, Lord. Yet the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

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

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

The Deaf and Mute Man Healed

³¹ Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decapolis. ³² They brought to Him one who was deaf and had difficulty speaking. And they pleaded with Him to put His hand on him.

³³ He took him aside from the crowd, and put His fingers into his ears, and spat and touched his tongue. ³⁴ Looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” ³⁵ Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosened, and he spoke correctly.

³⁶ He ordered them to tell no one. But the more He ordered them, the more they greatly proclaimed it. ³⁷ They were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”