7:1 Then the Pharisees, and some of the scribes gathered together to him, having come from Jerusalem.
7:2 Now when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is, unwashed, hands, they found fault.
7:3 (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, don't eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders.
7:4 They don't eat when they come from the marketplace, unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things, which they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and couches.)
7:5 The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why don't your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?"
7:6 He answered them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, But their heart is far from me.
7:7 But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'
7:8 "For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men--the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things."
7:9 He said to them, "Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.
7:10 For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother;' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.'
7:11 But you say, 'If a man tells his father or his mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban{Corban is a Hebrew word for an offering devoted to God.}, that is to say, given to God;"'
7:12 then you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother,
7:13 making void the word of God by your tradition, which you have handed down. You do many things like this."
7:14 He called all the multitude to himself, and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand.
7:15 There is nothing from outside of the man, that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man.
7:16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"
7:17 When he had entered into a house away from the multitude, his disciples asked him about the parable.
7:18 He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Don't you perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside can't defile him,
7:19 because it doesn't go into his heart, but into his stomach, then into the latrine, thus making all foods clean?"
7:20 He said, "That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man.
7:21 For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts,
7:22 covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness.
7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."
7:24 From there he arose, and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He entered into a house, and didn't want anyone to know it, but he couldn't escape notice.
7:25 For a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his feet.
7:26 Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. She begged him that he would cast the demon out of her daughter.
7:27 But Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not appropriate to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
7:28 But she answered him, "Yes, Lord. Yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."
7:29 He said to her, "For this saying, go your way. The demon has gone out of your daughter."
7:30 She went away to her house, and found the child having been laid on the bed, with the demon gone out.
7:31 Again he departed from the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and came to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the region of Decapolis.
7:32 They brought to him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech. They begged him to lay his hand on him.
7:33 He took him aside from the multitude, privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue.
7:34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha!" that is, "Be opened!"
7:35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke clearly.
7:36 He commanded them that they should tell no one, but the more he commanded them, so much the more widely they proclaimed it.
7:37 They were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes even the deaf hear, and the mute speak!"