Matthew 15:17-21:46 »Do you not see, that which goes into the mouth, goes into the stomach and is sent out as waste?

NSB⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹⁷ »Do you not see, that which goes into the mouth, goes into the stomach and is sent out as waste? ¹⁸ »That which comes out of the mouth, comes from the heart and makes a man unclean. ¹⁹ »Evil thoughts come from the heart! Thoughts about murder, adultery, fornication, theft, lying, and slander come from the heart! ²⁰ »These things make a man unclean. Eating food with unwashed hands does not make a man unclean.« ²¹ Jesus went away from there into the country of Tyre and Sidon. ²² A woman of Canaan came crying and saying: »Have pity on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is greatly troubled with an unclean spirit.« ²³ He did not answer her. His disciples said to him: »Send her away; she keeps shouting at us.« ²⁴ He answered: »I was sent only to the wandering sheep of the house of Israel.« ²⁵ She bowed down before him and asked for help. ²⁶ He said: »It is not right to take the children’s bread and give it to the dogs.« ²⁷ She said: »Yes, Lord; but even the dogs take the scraps from under their masters’ table.« ²⁸ »O woman,« Jesus replied, »your faith is great! Let your desire be done.« And her daughter was made well from that hour. ²⁹ Jesus went from there to the Sea of Galilee. He went up into the mountain and sat down. ³⁰ Many people came to him. They brought those who were lame, crippled, blind, mute, and many other people. They laid them down at his feet and he healed them. ³¹ The people marveled as they saw the mute speak, the crippled and lame walk, and the blind see. They glorified the God of Israel. ³² Jesus called his disciples and said: »I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with me now three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.« ³³ The disciples replied: »Where would we get so many loaves in this desolate place to satisfy such a large crowd?« ³⁴ Jesus asked: »How many loaves do you have?« They said: »Seven, and a few small fish.« ³⁵ He told the people to sit down on the ground. ³⁶ He took the seven loaves and the fish and offered a prayer of thanksgiving. Then he broke them and gave them to the disciples. The disciples gave them to the people. ³⁷ They all ate and were satisfied. When they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, there were seven large baskets full. ³⁸ Four thousand men, besides women and children were fed. ³⁹ After dismissing the crowds, Jesus took a boat to the region of Magadan. ¹⁶ ¹ The Pharisees and Sadducees tested Jesus by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. ² He said to them, »At nightfall you say the weather will be good, for the sky is red. ³ »And in the morning, the weather will be bad today for the sky is red and angry. You are able to see the face of heaven, but not the signs of the time. ⁴ »An evil and false generation is searching after a sign. However, no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah.« Then he left them. ⁵ The disciples came from the other side of the sea. They did not think to obtain bread. ⁶ Jesus said: »Take care to have nothing to do with the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.« ⁷ They reasoned among themselves, saying: »We took no bread.« ⁸ Hearing this, Jesus said: »You of little faith, why are you reasoning among yourselves about not having bread? ⁹ »Do you still not see or remember the five cakes of bread of the five thousand, and the number of baskets you took up? ¹⁰ »Or the seven cakes of bread of the four thousand, and the number of baskets you took up? ¹¹ »Why do you not understand I was not talking about bread? Instead, about keeping away from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?« ¹² Then they realized it was not the leaven of bread he had in mind. It was the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. ¹³ Jesus traveled to parts of Caesarea Philippi. He asked his disciples: »Who do men say that the Son of man is?« ¹⁴ They said: »John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.« ¹⁵ »Who do you say that I am?« ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered: »You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!« ¹⁷ Jesus answered him: »Bless you, Simon son of John. This knowledge came from my Father in heaven and not from man. ¹⁸ »You are Peter (Greek: petros: piece of rock), and on this rock-mass (Greek: petra: mass of rock) (referring to Jesus) I will build my congregation. The entrance to the grave (Greek: Hades) will not have power to stop it. ¹⁹ »I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is improper and unlawful in heaven, and whatever you declare lawful on earth must be lawful in heaven.« ²⁰ He gave orders to the disciples to tell no man he was the Christ. ²¹ From that time forward Jesus made it clear to his disciples how he would have to go to Jerusalem. He told them he would undergo much at the hands of the authorities, including the chief priests and scribes. He let them know he would be put to death. The third day he would come back from the dead. ²² Peter protested and rebuked Jesus. He said: »Do not think of that, Lord; it will never happen to you.« ²³ He turned to Peter and said: »Get behind me, Satan. You are a stumbling block to me. You think the things of men, not of God.« ²⁴ Then Jesus told his disciples: »If any man wants to follow me (be mine), let him deny (disown) himself, and take up his stake and follow me (Greek: akoloutheo moi, let him be following me) (accompany me) (be in the same way with me). ²⁵ »He who wants to save his life will lose it. He who is willing to lose his life for my sake will find it. ²⁶ »What will a man profit, if he gains the whole world, and gives up his life? What will a man give in exchange for his life? ²⁷ »The Son of man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels. He will then reward each man according to his deeds. ²⁸ »I tell you truly, there are some that stand here who will not experience death till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.« ¹⁷ ¹ After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother up into a high mountain alone. ² While they watched, Jesus’ appearance changed (transformed) (transfigured) in their presence. His face was as bright as the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. ³ Moses and Elijah appeared, and they were talking to him. ⁴ Peter told Jesus: »Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let us make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.« ⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them. A voice came out of the cloud, saying: »This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.« ⁶ When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces. They were very afraid. ⁷ Jesus touched them and told them to get up and not be afraid. ⁸ They saw only Jesus when they opened their eyes. ⁹ When they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone what they saw, until the Son of man has risen from the dead. ¹⁰ His disciples asked him: »Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?« ¹¹ In answer he said: »Elijah truly has to come and put all things right. ¹² »I tell you that Elijah has come. They did not know him and treated him badly as they pleased. They will do the same with the Son of man.« ¹³ Then the disciples saw that he was telling them about John the Baptist. ¹⁴ When they approached the people, a man fell to his knees before him, saying: ¹⁵ »Lord, have mercy on my son. He has mental problems and is in great pain. He frequently falls into the fire and into the water. ¹⁶ »I took him to your disciples, and they were not able to make him well.« ¹⁷ Jesus answered: »You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me.« ¹⁸ Jesus ordered the unclean spirit to leave the boy. It left him and the boy was made well immediately. ¹⁹ Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said: »Why were we not able to send it out?« ²⁰ He told them: »It was because of your lack of faith: Truly I say to you, if you have faith as small as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, move and it will move. Nothing will be impossible to you.« ²¹ (omitted, text not found in early manuscripts) ²² While they were traveling in Galilee, Jesus said to them: »The Son of man will be given up into the hands of men. ²³ »They will put him to death. The third day he will be raised from death.« They were very sad. ²⁴ They arrived at Capernaum. The collectors of the two-drachma tax asked Peter: »Does your master make payment of the Temple tax? ²⁵ He said: »Yes.« When he entered the house, Jesus said to him: »What is your opinion, Simon? Who pays the tax assessed by the kings of the earth? Is it from their sons or from other people?« ²⁶ When he said: »From other people,« Jesus replied: »Are the sons free of tax? ²⁷ »We will not cause them trouble. Go to the sea, and let down a hook, and take the first fish you catch. You will see money (a stater coin) in its mouth. Give it to them for me and for you.« ¹⁸ ¹ In that hour the disciples came to Jesus. They asked: »Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?« ² He took a little child and put him in the middle of them. ³ He said: »Truly I tell you, if you do not have a change of heart and become like little children, you will not go into the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ »He who humbles himself to become like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ »Everyone who accepts this little child in my name accepts me. ⁶ »He who causes one of my faithful little ones to stumble is in trouble. It would be better for him to end up in the deep sea with a great stone tied to his neck. ⁷ »A curse is on the earth because of stumbling! It is necessary for stumbling to come. Unhappy is that man through whom the stumbling comes. ⁸ »If your hand or your foot is a cause of stumbling cut it off. Get rid of it. It is better for you to go into life with the loss of a hand or a foot than, having two hands or two feet, to be destroyed by eternal fire. ⁹ »If your eye causes you stumbling, take it out and throw it away. It is better for you to go into life with one eye than, having two eyes, to be destroyed in ever-burning fires in the Valley of Hinnom (Greek: Gehenna). ¹⁰ »Do not treat these little ones badly. I tell you that angels represent them in the presence of my Father in heaven. ¹¹ (omitted, text not found in early manuscripts) ¹² »What do you think? A man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone wandering away. Will he leave the ninety-nine and go in search of the wandering one? ¹³ »When he finds it, I tell you he will be filled with more joy than he would have if he had stayed with the ninety-nine. ¹⁴ »Even so, your Father in heaven does not want any of these little ones to be lost. ¹⁵ »If your brother does wrong to you, go to him in private. Clearly explain his error between you and him. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother back. ¹⁶ »If he does not listen to you, take one or two more people with you. Two or three witnesses may prove every case. ¹⁷ »If he will not listen to them, let it come to the attention of the congregation. If he will not listen to the congregation, let him be to you as a heathen and a tax collector. ¹⁸ »I tell you; whatever things are fixed by you on earth will be declared improper and unlawful in heaven. Whatever you make free on earth will be declared lawful in heaven. ¹⁹ »Again, I say to you, that if two of you are in agreement on earth about anything for which they will make a request, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ »Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst.« ²¹ Peter came to him and said: »Lord, How many times may my brother do wrong against me, and I forgive him? Seven times?« ²² Jesus said to him: »Not seven times; but seventy times seven. ²³ »The kingdom of heaven is like a king who went over his accounts with his servants. ²⁴ »First, one came to him who owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵ »He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed. ²⁶ »So the servant fell on his face out of respect. He said: ‘Lord, give me time to make payment and I will pay everything.’ ²⁷ »Being moved with pity, the lord let him go, and made him free of the debt. ²⁸ »Then that servant met another servant who was in debt to him for one hundred denarii. He took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay your debt now.’ ²⁹ »That servant fell down before him, saying, ‘Give me time and I will make payment to you.’ ³⁰ »He would not give him time. He put him into prison till he paid the debt. ³¹ »When the other servants saw what happened, they were very sad. They told their lord what had been done. ³² »His lord sent for him, and said: ‘Evil servant; I made you free of all that debt, because of your request to me. ³³ »‘Should you [also] show mercy to your fellow servant the same way I showed mercy to you?’ ³⁴ »His lord was angry and sent him to jail to be punished until he paid back all of his debt. ³⁵ »My heavenly Father will treat you like that if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.« ¹⁹ ¹ When Jesus finished speaking, he departed from Galilee. He went to the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan. ² Large crowds followed him, and he healed many of them. ³ Pharisees came to him. They tested him, asking: »Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?« ⁴ He answered: »Have you not read, that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female? ⁵ »For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. The two shall become one flesh. ⁶ »So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What God has joined together, let no man pull apart (separate)!« ⁷ They asked him: »Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, to send her away?« ⁸ He answered: »Moses allowed you to send your wives away because of your hardness of heart. It was not allowed from the beginning. ⁹ »I tell you, whoever divorces his wife, except for fornication, and marries another, commits adultery. And he who marries her when she is divorced, commits adultery.« ¹⁰ The disciples said to him: »This being the case between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry.« ¹¹ He said: »This does not apply to everyone, only to those God has given it to. ¹² »For there are men who, from birth, were without sex. There are some who were made that way by men. There are others who have made themselves so for the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this let him accept it.« ¹³ Then some people brought little children to him. They wanted him to lay his hands on them and bless them. But the disciples tried to stop them. ¹⁴ Jesus said: »Let the little ones (children) come to me. Do not keep them away: for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.« ¹⁵ He put his hands on them, and then went on his way. ¹⁶ One man said: »Master, what good thing must I do, so that I may have eternal life?« ¹⁷ Jesus answered him: »Why are you questioning me about what is good? There is one who is good. If you desire life, obey the Law.« ¹⁸ The man replied: »Which law?« And Jesus said: »Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false witness, ¹⁹ »Honor your father and your mother, and Love your neighbor as yourself.« ²⁰ The man said to him: »I have done all these things; what more is there?« ²¹ Jesus then replied: »If you wish to be complete, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor. You will have wealth in heaven. Then follow me!« ²² But hearing these words, the young man went away grieving, for he was very wealthy. ²³ Jesus said to his disciples: »Truly I tell you, it is hard for a man with much money to go into the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴ »Again I say, It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a man with much money to go into the kingdom of God.« ²⁵ The disciples were greatly surprised when they heard this. »Who, then, may have salvation?« they asked. ²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said: »With men this is not possible. All things are possible with God!« ²⁷ Then Peter said: »See, we have given up everything to follow you. What then will we have?« ²⁸ Jesus replied: »Truly I say to you, when all things are made new, and the Son of man is seated in his glory, you who have come after me will be seated on twelve seats, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ »Everyone who has given up houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or child, or land, for my name, will receive many times as much, and have everlasting life. ³⁰ »Many who are first will be last. Some who are last will be first.« ²⁰ ¹ »The kingdom of heaven is like the master of a house, who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. ² »He made an agreement with the workmen for a penny a day. Then he sent them into his vineyard. ³ »He went out the third hour and saw others in the marketplace doing nothing.« ⁴ »He said to them: ‘Go to the vineyard with the others. I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went to work. ⁵ »He went out the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same. ⁶ »The eleventh hour, he saw others doing nothing. He asked: ‘Why are you here all the day doing nothing?’ ⁷ »They said: ‘No man has given us work.’ He told them to go work with the rest in the vineyard. ⁸ »When evening came, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager: ‘Let the workers come and pay them from the last to the first.’ ⁹ »Those men who went to work at the eleventh hour were each given a penny. ¹⁰ »Those who worked longer, expected to be paid more. They were also given a penny. ¹¹ »When they got it, they protested against the master of the house. ¹² »They said: ‘The last ones have done only one hour’s work. You have made them equal to us. We have undergone the hard work of the day and the burning heat.’ ¹³ »He told them: ‘I do you no wrong. You made an agreement with me for a penny. ¹⁴ »‘Take what is yours and leave. I wish to give to the last workers the same as to you. ¹⁵ »‘Is it lawful for me to do what I wish with what is mine? Or is your eye jealous because I am generous?’ ¹⁶ »So the last will be first, and the first last.« ¹⁷ When Jesus went to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and talked to them. ¹⁸ »When we get to Jerusalem,« he said, »The Son of man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes. They will give orders for him to be put to death. ¹⁹ »They will turn him over to the heathen to be made sport of and to be whipped. He will be put to death on the stake. The third day he will come back from the dead.« ²⁰ The mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons. She bowed down and requested a favor of him. ²¹ »What is your desire?« he asked. She said to him: »Let my two sons be seated, the one at your right hand, and the other at your left, in your kingdom.« ²² Jesus told her: »You have no idea what you are requesting. Are you able to take of the cup I am about to take? » ²³ They said: »We are able.« »Truly, you will take of my cup,« he said. »But to be seated at my right hand and at my left is not for me to give. It is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.« ²⁴ When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. ²⁵ Jesus called them to himself and said: »You know that the rulers of the nations exercise absolute dominion over them. They lord it over them and behave like tyrants. ²⁶ »But it will not be so among you. He who will be great among you must be your servant. ²⁷ And he who will be first among you will be your attendant (servant) (minister). ²⁸ »The Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom in payment for many.« ²⁹ A great crowd followed him when they departed from Jericho. ³⁰ Two blind men sitting by the side of the road heard Jesus pass by and cried out: »Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!« ³¹ The crowd told them to be quiet. But they cried even more, saying: »Have mercy on us, O Lord, you Son of David!« ³² Jesus stood still and asked them: »What do you want me to do to you?« ³³ They said: »Lord give us our sight.« ³⁴ Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Now they could see! So they followed him. ²¹ ¹ They were near Jerusalem at Bethphage. Jesus sent two disciples to the Mount of Olives. ² He told them, »Go to the nearby town and look for a donkey with a cord around her neck. There will be a young one with her. Turn them loose and bring them to me. ³ »Tell anyone who asks, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and right away he will allow them to go.« ⁴ This took place so that the words of the prophet might come true: ⁵ »Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, humble, and seated on a donkey, a colt, the offspring of a beast of burden.’« ⁶ So the disciples did as Jesus commanded. ⁷ They got the donkey and the young one, and laid their clothing on them. And he sat on the clothing. ⁸ Most of the people spread their garments on the road. Others took branches from the trees and put them on the road. ⁹ Those going ahead of him and following him shouted praise: »Glory to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of Jehovah! Glory in the highest!« (Psalms 118:26) ¹⁰ When he came to Jerusalem, the people were excited. They asked: »Who is this?« ¹¹ Other people said: »This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.« ¹² Jesus went into the Temple and drove out all who were trading there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those trading in doves. ¹³ He told them: »It is written, ‘My house is to be named a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a hiding place of thieves.« ¹⁴ The blind and the crippled came to him in the Temple, and he made them well. ¹⁵ The chief priests and the scribes saw the powerful works he did. They heard the children crying out in the Temple: »Glory to the son of David.« This made them very angry. ¹⁶ »Have you any idea what these people are saying?« Jesus answered: »Yes. It is written, ‘From the lips of children and babies at the breast you have made your praise complete.’« ¹⁷ He left them and went out of the town to Bethany where he stayed for the night. ¹⁸ He was hungry in the morning when he returned to the town. ¹⁹ He saw a fig tree along the side of the road. He went to it and saw nothing on it but leaves. He told it: »You will not bare fruit from this time forward, forever.« Immediately the fig tree became dry and dead. ²⁰ The disciples were surprised when they saw it. They asked how the fig tree became dry so quickly? ²¹ Jesus answered: »If you have faith and do not doubt, I make this promise to you: You will be able to do what was done to this fig tree. When you say to this mountain, be moved into the sea, it will be done. ²² »You will receive the things you ask for in prayer when you have faith.« ²³ When he went into the Temple, the chief priests and those in authority over the people came to him while he was teaching. They asked: »By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?« ²⁴ Jesus answered: »I will ask you one question. If you give me the answer, I will say by what authority I do these things. ²⁵ »Where did the baptism of John come from? Was it from heaven or from men?« They talked among themselves. »If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not have faith in him?’ ²⁶ »But if we say, ‘From men,’ we must fear the people, because they all recognize John to be a prophet.« ²⁷ Therefore they answered: »We have no idea.« He replied to them: »Then I will not tell you by what authority I do these things.« ²⁸ »What do you think? A man had two sons. He asked the first to work today in the vineyard. ²⁹ »The first son said in answer, ‘I will not.’ Later he changed his mind and went to work. ³⁰ »He said the same to the second son. That son answered, ‘Yes, I will go,’ but he did not go to work. ³¹ »Which of the two pleased his father?« They replied: »The first.« Jesus said to them: »I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes will go into the kingdom of God before you.« ³² »John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him. Even the tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. When you saw this, you did not regret your sins and did not have faith in him. ³³ »Listen to another illustration. A master of a house made a vineyard, and put a wall around it. He made a wine press and built a tower. Then he rented it to workers and traveled to another country. ³⁴ »When the time for the fruit came near, he sent his servants to the workmen, to get the fruit. ³⁵ »The workmen attacked his servants, striking one with a stone and killing the other. ³⁶ »He sent other servants more in number than the first. They did the same to them. ³⁷ »Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘Certainly they will respect my son.’ ³⁸ »When the workmen saw the son, they said, ‘Let us put him to death and take his heritage, for someday he will own this property.’ ³⁹ »They took him out of the vineyard and killed him. ⁴⁰ »When the lord of the vineyard returns, what will he do to the workmen?« ⁴¹ They all said: »He will put those cruel men to death. Then he will find other workmen who are worthy and who will give him fruit when it is ready.« ⁴² Jesus said to them: »Have you read the Scriptures, ‘The stone the builders rejected has been made the chief cornerstone of the building. This was Jehovah’s doing, and it is wonderful in our eyes.’ (Isaiah 28:16) ⁴³ »For this reason I tell you, The kingdom of God will be taken away from you. It will be given to a nation producing fruit. ⁴⁴ »Any man falling on this stone will be broken. Any man having this stone fall on him will be crushed to dust.« ⁴⁵ When the chief priests and Pharisees heard his illustrations they realized he was talking about them. ⁴⁶ They wanted to seize him, but feared the people, because the people saw Jesus as a prophet.