The Tradition of the Elders (Matthew 15:1–9)
2 AKJV And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashed, hands, they found fault. BSB BSB: and they saw some of His disciples eating with hands that were defiled—that is, unwashed.
3 AKJV For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. BSB BSB: Now in holding to the tradition of the elders, the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat until they wash their hands ceremonially.
4 AKJV And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables. BSB BSB: And on returning from the market, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions for them to observe, including the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and couches for dining.
5 AKJV Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not your disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands? BSB BSB: So the Pharisees and scribes questioned Jesus: “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders? Instead, they eat with defiled hands.”
6 AKJV He answered and said to them, Well has Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. BSB BSB: Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.
7 AKJV However, in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. BSB BSB: They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’
8 AKJV For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things you do. BSB BSB: You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.”
10 AKJV For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother; and, Whoever curses father or mother, let him die the death: BSB BSB: For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’
11 AKJV But you say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatever you might be profited by me; he shall be free. BSB BSB: But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God),
12 AKJV And you suffer him no more to do something for his father or his mother; BSB BSB: he is no longer permitted to do anything for his father or mother.
13 AKJV Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which you have delivered: and many such like things do you. BSB BSB: Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.”
What Defiles a Man (Matthew 15:10–20)
15 AKJV There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. BSB BSB: Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him; but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him.”
16 AKJV If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. BSB BSB: Not in the BSB
17 AKJV And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. BSB BSB: After Jesus had left the crowd and gone into the house, His disciples inquired about the parable.
19 AKJV Because it enters not into his heart, but into the belly, and goes out into the draught, purging all meats? BSB BSB: because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.)
20 AKJV And he said, That which comes out of the man, that defiles the man. BSB BSB: He continued: “What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him.
21 AKJV For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, BSB BSB: For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
22 AKJV Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: BSB BSB: greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness.
23 AKJV All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. BSB BSB: All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.”
The Faith of the Gentile Woman (Matthew 15:21–28)
24 AKJV And from there he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid. BSB BSB: Jesus left that place and went to the region of Tyre. Not wanting anyone to know He was there, He entered a house, but was unable to escape their notice.
25 AKJV For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet: BSB BSB: Instead, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit soon heard about Jesus, and she came and fell at His feet.
26 AKJV The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she sought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. BSB BSB: Now she was a Greek woman of Syrophoenician origin, and she kept asking Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
28 AKJV And she answered and said to him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs. BSB BSB: “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
30 AKJV And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid on the bed. BSB BSB: And she went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.
The Deaf and Mute Man (Matthew 9:27–34)
31 AKJV And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came to the sea of Galilee, through the middle of the coasts of Decapolis. BSB BSB: Then Jesus left the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.
32 AKJV And they bring to him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand on him. BSB BSB: Some people brought to Him a man who was deaf and hardly able to speak, and they begged Jesus to place His hand on him.
33 AKJV And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; BSB BSB: So Jesus took him aside privately, away from the crowd, and put His fingers into the man’s ears. Then He spit and touched the man’s tongue.
34 AKJV And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and says to him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. BSB BSB: And looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”).
35 AKJV And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plain. BSB BSB: Immediately the man’s ears were opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak plainly.
36 AKJV And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; BSB BSB: Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more He ordered them, the more widely they proclaimed it.
37 AKJV And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He has done all things well: he makes both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak. BSB BSB: The people were utterly astonished and said, “He has done all things well! He makes even the deaf hear and the mute speak!”