Mark 7

Traditions and Commandments

1 Then a the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. 2 Now 1 when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with b unwashed hands, 2 they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands 3 in a special way, holding the c tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches. 5 d Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?"

6 He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you e hypocrites, as it is written:
f 'This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
7 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' 4

8 "For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men - 5 the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do."

9 He said to them, "All too well g you 6 reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 "For Moses said, h 'Honor your father and your mother'; 7 and, i 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' 8 11 "But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, j "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban" - ' (that is, a gift to God), 12 "then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 "making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do."

What Defiles a Person

14 k When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and l understand: 15 "There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that m defile a man. 16 n "If 9 anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!" 17 o When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. 18 So He said to them, p "Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19 "because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, 10 thus purifying all foods?" 20 And He said, q "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 r "For from within, out of the heart of men, s proceed evil thoughts, t adulteries, u fornications, murders, 22 "thefts, v covetousness, wickedness, w deceit, x lewdness, an evil eye, y blasphemy, z pride, foolishness. 23 "All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

The Syrophoenician Woman's Faith

24 a From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre 11 and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be b hidden. 25 For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and c fell at His feet. 26 The woman was a 12 Greek, a 13 SyroPhoeni'cian by birth, and she kept 14 asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 But Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." 28 And she answered and said to Him, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children's crumbs." 29 Then He said to her, "For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter." 30 And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.

Jesus Heals a Deaf Man

31 d Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. 32 Then e they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. 33 And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and f He spat and touched his tongue. 34 Then, g looking up to heaven, h He sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." 35 i Immediately his ears were opened, and the 15 impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. 36 Then j He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it. 37 And they were k astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He l makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

  1. Cross References
    Matthew 15:1 - 20
    Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying.
  2. Cross References
    Matthew 15:20
    "These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."
  3. Cross References
    Mark 7:5
    Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why ...
    Mark 7:8
    "For laying aside the commandment of God, you h...
    Mark 7:9
    He said to them, " All too well you reject the ...
    Mark 7:13
    "making the word of God of no effect through yo...
    Galatians 1:14
    And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my con...
    1 Peter 1:18
    Knowing that you were not redeemed with corrupt...
  4. Cross References
    Matthew 15:2
    "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."
  5. Cross References
    Matthew 23:13 - 29
    But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.
  6. Cross References
    Isaiah 29:13
    Therefore the Lord said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men.
  7. Cross References
    Proverbs 1:25
    Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke.
    Isaiah 24:5
    The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, Because they have transgressed the laws, Changed the ordinance, Broken the everlasting covenant.
    Jeremiah 7:23
    "But this is what I commanded them, saying, 'Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.'
    Jeremiah 7:24
    Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.
  8. Cross References
    Exodus 20:12
    Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
    Deuteronomy 5:16
    Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
    Matthew 15:4
    "For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother' ; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'
  9. Cross References
    Exodus 21:17
    And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.
    Leviticus 20:9
    For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother. His blood shall be upon him.
    Proverbs 20:20
    Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness.
  10. Cross References
    Matthew 15:5
    But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God " -
    Matthew 23:18
    "And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.'
  11. Cross References
    Matthew 15:10
    When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand:
  12. Cross References
    Matthew 16:9
    Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up?
    Matthew 16:11
    "How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? - but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
    Matthew 16:12
    Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
  13. Cross References
    Isaiah 59:3
    For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has muttered perversity.
    Hebrews 12:15
    Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.
  14. Cross References
    Matthew 11:15
    He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
  15. Cross References
    Matthew 15:15
    Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain this parable to us.
  16. Cross References
    Isaiah 28:9 - 11
    Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts?
    1 Corinthians 3:2
    I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able.
    Hebrews 5:11 - 14
    Of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
  17. Cross References
    Psalms 39:1
    I SAID, "I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me.
    Matthew 12:34 - 37
    Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
    James 3:6
    And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
  18. Cross References
    Genesis 6:5
    Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
    Genesis 8:21
    And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, "I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.
    Proverbs 6:18
    A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil.
    Jeremiah 17:9
    The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
    Matthew 15:19
    For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
  19. Cross References
    Galatians 5:19 - 21
    Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness.
  20. Cross References
    2 Peter 2:14
    Having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.
  21. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 4:3
    For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality.
  22. Cross References
    Luke 12:15
    And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.
  23. Cross References
    Romans 1:28
    And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting.
    Romans 1:29
    Being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers.
  24. Cross References
    1 Peter 4:3
    For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles - when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.
  25. Cross References
    Revelation 2:9
    I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
  26. Cross References
    1 John 2:16
    For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - is not of the Father but is of the world.
  27. Cross References
    Matthew 15:21
    Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
  28. Cross References
    Mark 2:1
    And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house.
    Mark 2:2
    Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.
  29. Cross References
    Mark 5:22
    And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet
    John 11:32
    Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.
    Revelation 1:17
    And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, " Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
  30. Cross References
    Matthew 15:29
    Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of G...
    Mark 15:37
    And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and brea...
    Luke 23:46
    And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice,...
    Luke 24:46
    Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and ...
    Acts 10:40
    Him God raised up on the third day, and showed ...
    1 Corinthians 15:4
    And that He was buried, and that He rose again ...
  31. Cross References
    Matthew 9:32
    As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed.
    Luke 11:14
    And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.
  32. Cross References
    Mark 8:23
    So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.
    John 9:6
    When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.
  33. Cross References
    Mark 6:41
    And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all.
    John 11:41
    Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.
    John 17:1
    Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You.
  34. Cross References
    John 11:33
    Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.
    John 11:38
    Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
  35. Cross References
    Isaiah 35:5
    Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
    Isaiah 35:6
    Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.
  36. Cross References
    Mark 5:43
    But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.
  37. Cross References
    Mark 6:51
    Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.
    Mark 10:26
    And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?
  38. Cross References
    Matthew 12:22
    Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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