Matthew 15:3-19:2 His reply was: "How is it that you on your side break God's commandments out of respect for your own traditions?

Twentieth_Century⁽ⁱ⁾ ³ His reply was: "How is it that you on your side break God's commandments out of respect for your own traditions? ⁴ For God said--'Honor thy father and mother,' and 'Let him who reviles his father or mother suffer death,' ⁵ But you say 'Whenever any one says to his father or mother "Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is 'Given to God,'" ⁶ He is in no way bound to honor his father.' In this way you have nullified the words of God on account of your traditions. ⁷ Hypocrites! It was well said by Isaiah when he prophesied about you-- ⁸ 'This is a people that honor me with their lips, While their hearts are far removed from me; ⁹ But vainly do they worship me, For they teach but the precepts of men.'" ¹⁰ Then Jesus called the people to him, and said: "Listen, and mark my words. ¹¹ It is not what enters a man's mouth that 'defiles' him, but what comes out from his mouth--that does defile him!" ¹² On this his disciples came up to him, and said: "Do you know that the Pharisees were shocked on hearing what you said?" ¹³ "Every plant," Jesus replied, "that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. ¹⁴ Let them be; they are but blind guides; and, if one blind man guides another, both of them will fall into a ditch." ¹⁵ Upon this, Peter said to Jesus: "Explain this saying to us." ¹⁶ "What, do even you understand nothing yet?" Jesus exclaimed. ¹⁷ "Do not you see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is afterwards expelled? ¹⁸ But the things that come out from the mouth proceed from the heart, and it is these that defile a man; ¹⁹ For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts--murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, perjury, slander. ²⁰ These are the things that defile a man; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile a man." ²¹ On going away from that place, Jesus retired to the country round Tyre and Sidon. ²² There, a Canaanite woman of that district came out and began calling to Jesus: "Take pity on me, Master, Son of David; my daughter is grievously possessed by a demon." ²³ But Jesus did not answer her a word; and his disciples came up and begged him to send her away. "She keeps calling out after us," they said. ²⁴ "I was not sent," replied Jesus, "to any one except the lost sheep of Israel." ²⁵ But the woman came, and, bowing to the ground before him, said: "Master, help me." ²⁶ "It is not fair," replied Jesus, "to take the children's food and throw it to dogs." ²⁷ "Yes, Master," she said, "for even dogs do feed on the scraps that fall from their owners' table." ²⁸ "Your faith is great," was his reply to the woman; "it shall be as you wish!" And her daughter was cured that very hour. ²⁹ On leaving that place, Jesus went to the shore of the Sea of Galilee; and then went up the hill, and sat down., you will do what not only what has been done to the fig tree, but, even if you should say to this hill 'Be lifted up and hurled into the sea!' it would be done. ³⁰ Great crowds of people came to him, bringing with them those who were lame, crippled, blind, or dumb, and many others. They put them down at his feet, and he cured them; ³¹ And the crowds were astonished, when they saw the dumb talking, the cripples made sound, the lame walking about, and the blind with their sight restored; and they praised the God of Israel. ³² Afterwards Jesus called his disciples to him, and said: "My heart is moved at the sight of all these people, for they have already been with me three days and they have nothing to eat; and I am unwilling to send them away hungry, for fear that they should break down on the way." ³³ "Where can we," his disciples asked, "in a lonely place find enough bread for such a crowd as this?" ³⁴ "How many loaves have you?" said Jesus. "Seven," they answered, "and a few small fish." ³⁵ Telling the crowd to sit down on the ground, ³⁶ Jesus took the seven loaves and the fish, and, after saying the thanksgiving, broke them, and gave them to the disciples; and the disciples gave them to the crowds. ³⁷ Every one had sufficient to eat, and they picked up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left. ³⁸ The men who ate were four thousand in number without counting women and children. ³⁹ Then, after dismissing the crowds, Jesus got into the boat, and went to the neighborhood of Magadan. ¹⁶ ¹ Here the Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and, to test Jesus, requested him to show them some sign from the heavens. ² But Jesus answered: [ "In the evening you say 'It will be fine weather, for the sky is as red as fire.' ³ But in the morning you say 'To-day it will be stormy, for the sky is as red as fire and threatening.' You learn to read the sky; yet you are unable to read the signs of the times!] ⁴ A wicked and unfaithful generation is asking for a sign, but no sign shall be given it except the sign of Jonah." So he left them and went away. ⁵ Now the disciples had crossed to the opposite shore, and had forgotten to take any bread. ⁶ Presently Jesus said to them: "Take care and be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." ⁷ But the disciples began talking among themselves about their having brought no bread. ⁸ On noticing this, Jesus said: "Why are you talking among yourselves about your being short of bread, O men of little faith? ⁹ Do not you yet see, nor remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took away? ¹⁰ Nor yet the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you took away? ¹¹ How is it that you do not see that I was not speaking about bread? Be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." ¹² Then they understood that he had told them to be on their guard, not against the leaven of bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. ¹³ On coming into the neighborhood of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples this question-- "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" ¹⁴ "Some say John the Baptist," they answered, "Others, however, say that he is Elijah, while others again say Jeremiah, or one of the Prophets." ¹⁵ "But you," he said, "who do you say that I am?" ¹⁶ And to this Simon Peter answered: "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." ¹⁷ "Blessed are you, Simon, Son of Jonah," Jesus replied. "For no human being has revealed this to you, but my Father who is in Heaven. ¹⁸ Yes, and I say to you, Your name is 'Peter--a Rock, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the Powers of the Place of Death shall not prevail over it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be held in Heaven to be forbidden, and whatever you allow on earth will be held in Heaven to be allowed." ²⁰ Then he charged his disciples not to tell any one that he was the Christ. ²¹ At that time Jesus Christ began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and undergo much suffering at the hands of the Councillors, and Chief Priests, and Teachers of the Law, and be put to death, and rise on the third day. ²² But Peter took Jesus aside, and began to rebuke him. "Master," he said, "please God that shall never be your fate!" ²³ Jesus, however, turning to Peter, said: "Out of my way, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you look at things, not as God does, but as man does." ²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples: "If any man wishes to walk in my steps, let him renounce self, and take up his cross, and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, and whoever, for my sake, loses his life shall find it. ²⁶ What good will it do a man to gain the whole world, if he forfeits his life? or what will a man give that is of equal value with his life? ²⁷ For the Son of Man is to come in his Father's Glory, with his angels, and then he 'will give to every man what his actions deserve.' ²⁸ I tell you, some of those who are standing here will not know death till they have seen the Son of Man coming into his Kingdom." ¹⁷ ¹ Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter, and the brothers James and John, and led them up a high mountain alone. ² There his appearance was transformed before their eyes; his face shown like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³ And all at once Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus. ⁴ "Master," exclaimed Peter, interposing, "it is good to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." ⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and there was a voice from the cloud that said-- "This is my Son, the Beloved, in whom I delight; him you must hear." ⁶ The disciples, on hearing this, fell on their faces, greatly afraid. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them, saying as he did so: "Rise up, and do not be afraid." ⁸ When they raised their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus himself alone. ⁹ As they were going down the mountain side, Jesus gave them this warning-- "Do not speak of this vision to any one, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead." ¹⁰ "How is it," his disciples asked, "that our Teachers of the Law say that Elijah has to come first?" ¹¹ "Elijah indeed does come," Jesus replied, "and will restore everything; ¹² And I tell you that Elijah has already come, and people have not recognized him, but have treated him just as they pleased. In the same way, too, the Son of Man is destined to undergo suffering at men's hands." ¹³ Then the disciples understood that it was of John the Baptist that he had spoken to them. ¹⁴ When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, and, kneeling down before him, said: ¹⁵ "Master, take pity on my son, for he is epileptic and suffers terribly; indeed, he often falls into the fire and into the water; ¹⁶ I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him." ¹⁷ "O faithless and perverse generation!" Jesus exclaimed, "how long must I be among you? how long must I have patience with you? Bring the boy here to me." ¹⁸ Then Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy; and he was cured from that very hour. ¹⁹ Afterwards the disciples came up to Jesus, and asked him privately: "Why was it that we could not drive it out?" ²⁰ "Because you have so little faith," he answered; "for, I tell you, if your faith were only like a mustard-seed, you could say to this mountain 'Move from this place to that!' and it would be moved; and nothing would be impossible to you." ²¹ OMITTED TEXT ²² While Jesus and his disciples were together in Galilee, he said to them: "The Son of Man is destined to be betrayed into the hands of his fellow-men, ²³ And they will put him to death, but on the third day he will rise." And the disciples were greatly distressed. ²⁴ After they had reached Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple-rate came up to Peter, and said: "Does not your Master pay the Temple-rate?" ²⁵ "Yes," answered Peter. But, on going into the house, before he could speak, Jesus said: "What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings take taxes or tribute? From their sons, or from others?" ²⁶ "From others," answered Peter. "Well then," continued Jesus, "their sons go free. ²⁷ Still, that we may not shock them, go and throw a line into the Sea; take the first fish that rises, open its mouth, and you will find in it a piece of money. Take that, and give it to the collectors for both of us." ¹⁸ ¹ On the same occasion the disciples came to Jesus, and asked him: "Who is really the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" ² Jesus called a little child to him, and placed it in the middle of them, and then said: ³ "I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all. ⁴ Therefore, any one who will humble himself like this child-- that man shall be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. ⁵ And any one who, for the sake of my Name, welcomes even one little child like this, is welcoming me. ⁶ But, if any one puts a snare in the way of one of these lowly ones who believe in me, it would be best for him to be sunk in the depths of the sea with a great millstone hung round his neck. ⁷ Alas for the world because of such snares! There cannot but be snares; yet alas for the man who is answerable for the snare! ⁸ If your hand or your foot is a snare to you, cut it off, and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter the Life maimed or lame, than to have both hands, or both feet, and be thrown into the aeonian fire. ⁹ If your eye is a snare to you, take it out, and throw it away. It would be better for you to enter the Life with only one eye, than to have both eyes and be thrown into the fiery Pit. ¹⁰ Beware of despising one of these lowly ones, for in Heaven, I tell you, their angels always see the face of my Father who is in Heaven. ¹¹ OMITTED TEXT ¹² What think you? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them strays, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills, and go and search for the one that is straying? ¹³ And, if he succeeds in finding it, I tell you that he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine which did not stray. ¹⁴ So, too, it is the will of my Father who is in Heaven that not one of these lowly ones should be lost. ¹⁵ If your Brother does wrong, go to him and convince him of his fault when you and he are alone. If he listens to you, you have won your Brother. ¹⁶ But, if he does not listen to you, take with you one or two others, so that 'on the evidence of two or three witnesses, every word may be put beyond dispute.' ¹⁷ If he refuses to listen to them, speak to the Church; and, if he also refuses to listen to the Church, treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax-gatherer. ¹⁸ I tell you, all that you forbid on earth will be held in Heaven to be forbidden, and all that you allow on earth will be held in Heaven to be allowed. ¹⁹ Again, I tell you that, if but two of you on earth agree as to what they shall pray for, whatever it be, it will be granted them by my Father who is in Heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three have come together in my Name, I am present with them." ²¹ Then Peter came up, and said to Jesus: "Master, how often am I to forgive my Brother when he wrongs me? As many as seven times?" ²² But Jesus answered: "Not seven times, but 'seventy times seven.' ²³ And therefore the Kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ When he had begun to do so, one of them was brought to him who owed him six million pounds; ²⁵ And, as he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold towards the payment of the debt, together with his wife, and his children, and everything that he had. ²⁶ Thereupon the servant threw himself down on the ground before him and said 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' ²⁷ The master was moved with compassion; and he let him go, and forgave him the debt. ²⁸ But, on going out, that same servant came upon one of his fellow-servants who owed him ten pounds. Seizing him by the throat, he said 'Pay what you owe me.' ²⁹ Thereupon his fellow-servant threw himself on the ground and begged for mercy. 'Have patience with me,' he said, 'and I will pay you.' ³⁰ But the other would not, but went and put him in prison till he should pay his debt. ³¹ When his fellow-servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and went to their master and laid the whole matter before him. ³² Upon that the master sent for the servant, and said to him 'You wicked servant! When you begged me for mercy, I forgave you the whole of that debt. ³³ Ought not you, also, to have shown mercy to your fellow- servant, just as I showed mercy to you?' ³⁴ Then his master, in anger, handed him over to the jailers, until he should pay the whole of his debt. ³⁵ So, also, will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each one of you forgives his Brother from his heart." ¹⁹ ¹ At the conclusion of this teaching, Jesus withdrew from Galilee, and went into that district of Judea which is on the other side of the Jordan. ² Great crowds followed him, and he cured them there.