Matthew 15 – read and compare multiple versions
Matthew 15
[1] Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying, [2] “Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat bread.” [3] He answered them, “Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition? [4] For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’ [5] But you say, ‘Whoever may tell his father or his mother, “Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God,” [6] he shall not honor his father or mother.’ You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition. [7] You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,
[8] ‘These people draw near to me with their mouth,
and honor me with their lips;
but their heart is far from me.
[9] And they worship me in vain,
teaching as doctrine rules made by men.’ ” [10] He summoned the multitude, and said to them, “Hear, and understand. [11] That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.” [12] Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” [13] But he answered, “Every plant which my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted. [14] Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.” [15] Peter answered him, “Explain the parable to us.” [16] So Jesus said, “Do you also still not understand? [17] Don’t you understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly and then out of the body? [18] But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man. [19] For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies. [20] These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn’t defile the man.” [21] Jesus went out from there and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon. [22] Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders and cried, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely possessed by a demon!” [23] But he answered her not a word.His disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away; for she cries after us.” [24] But he answered, “I wasn’t sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” [25] But she came and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, help me.” [26] But he answered, “It is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” [27] But she said, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” [28] Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that hour. [29] Jesus departed from there and came near to the sea of Galilee; and he went up on the mountain and sat there. [30] Great multitudes came to him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others, and they put them down at his feet. He healed them, [31] so that the multitude wondered when they saw the mute speaking, the injured healed, the lame walking, and the blind seeing—and they glorified the God of Israel. [32] Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have continued with me now three days and have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away fasting, or they might faint on the way.” [33] The disciples said to him, “Where could we get so many loaves in a deserted place as to satisfy so great a multitude?” [34] Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” [35] He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground; [36] and he took the seven loaves and the fish. He gave thanks and broke them, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes. [37] They all ate and were filled. They took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over. [38] Those who ate were four thousand men, in addition to women and children. [39] Then he sent away the multitudes, got into the boat, and came into the borders of Magdala.
[8] ‘These people draw near to me with their mouth,
and honor me with their lips;
but their heart is far from me.
[9] And they worship me in vain,
teaching as doctrine rules made by men.’ ” [10] He summoned the multitude, and said to them, “Hear, and understand. [11] That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.” [12] Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” [13] But he answered, “Every plant which my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted. [14] Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.” [15] Peter answered him, “Explain the parable to us.” [16] So Jesus said, “Do you also still not understand? [17] Don’t you understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly and then out of the body? [18] But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man. [19] For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies. [20] These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn’t defile the man.” [21] Jesus went out from there and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon. [22] Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders and cried, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely possessed by a demon!” [23] But he answered her not a word.His disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away; for she cries after us.” [24] But he answered, “I wasn’t sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” [25] But she came and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, help me.” [26] But he answered, “It is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” [27] But she said, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” [28] Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that hour. [29] Jesus departed from there and came near to the sea of Galilee; and he went up on the mountain and sat there. [30] Great multitudes came to him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others, and they put them down at his feet. He healed them, [31] so that the multitude wondered when they saw the mute speaking, the injured healed, the lame walking, and the blind seeing—and they glorified the God of Israel. [32] Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have continued with me now three days and have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away fasting, or they might faint on the way.” [33] The disciples said to him, “Where could we get so many loaves in a deserted place as to satisfy so great a multitude?” [34] Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” [35] He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground; [36] and he took the seven loaves and the fish. He gave thanks and broke them, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes. [37] They all ate and were filled. They took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over. [38] Those who ate were four thousand men, in addition to women and children. [39] Then he sent away the multitudes, got into the boat, and came into the borders of Magdala.