The Gospel According to St. Matthew

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- Chapter 15 -

(Mark 7:1–13)

Then the scribes and the Pharisees came to him from Jerusalem, saying:

“Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

But responding, he said to them: “And why do you transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said:

‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Whoever will have cursed father or mother shall die a death.’

But you say: ‘If anyone will have said to father or mother, “It is dedicated, so that whatever is from me will benefit you,”(a)

(b)

then he shall not honor his father or his mother.’ So have you nullified the commandment of God, for the sake of your tradition.

Hypocrites! How well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

For in vain do they worship me, teaching the doctrines and commandments of men.’ ”(c)

What Defiles a Man

(Mark 7:14–23)

And having called the multitudes to him, he said to them: “Listen and understand.

A man is not defiled by what enters into the mouth, but by what proceeds from the mouth. This is what defiles a man.”(d)

Then his disciples drew near and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees, upon hearing this word, were offended?”

But in response he said: “Every plant which has not been planted by my heavenly Father shall be uprooted.

Leave them alone. They are blind, and they lead the blind. But if the blind are in charge of the blind, both will fall into the pit.”

And responding, Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.”

But he said: “Are you, even now, without understanding?

Do you not understand that everything that enters into the mouth goes into the gut, and is cast into the sewer?

But what proceeds from the mouth, goes forth from the heart, and those are the things that defile a man.

For from the heart go out evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies.

These are the things that defile a man. But to eat without washing hands does not defile a man.”

The Faith of the Canaanite Woman

(Mark 7:24–30)

And departing from there, Jesus withdrew into the areas of Tyre and Sidon.

And behold, a woman of Canaan, going out from those parts, cried out, saying to him: “Take pity on me, Lord, Son of David. My daughter is badly afflicted by a demon.”

He did not say a word to her. And his disciples, drawing near, petitioned him, saying: “Dismiss her, for she is crying out after us.”

And responding, he said, “I was not sent except to the sheep who have fallen away from the house of Israel.”

But she approached and adored him, saying, “Lord, help me.”

And responding, he said, “It is not good to take the bread of the children and cast it to the dogs.”

But she said, “Yes, Lord, but the young dogs also eat from the crumbs that fall from the table of their masters.”

Then Jesus, responding, said to her: “O woman, great is your faith. Let it be done for you just as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

The Feeding of the Four Thousand

(2 Kings 4:42–44; Mark 8:1–10)

And when Jesus had passed from there, he arrived beside the sea of Galilee. And ascending onto a mountain, he sat down there.

And great multitudes came to him, having with them the mute, the blind, the lame, the disabled, and many others. And they cast them down at his feet, and he cured them,

so much so that the crowds wondered, seeing the mute speaking, the lame walking, the blind seeing. And they magnified the God of Israel.

And Jesus, calling together his disciples, said: “I have compassion on the crowds, because they have persevered with me now for three days, and they do not have anything to eat. And I am not willing to dismiss them, fasting, lest they faint along the way.”

And the disciples said to him: “From where, then, in the desert, would we obtain enough bread to satisfy so a great multitude?”

And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves of bread do you have?” But they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.”

And he instructed the crowds to recline upon the ground.

And taking the seven loaves and the fish, and giving thanks, he broke and gave to his disciples, and the disciples gave to the people.

And they all ate and were satisfied. And, from what was left over of the fragments, they took up seven full baskets.

But those who ate were four thousand men, plus children and women.

And having dismissed the crowd, he climbed into a boat. And he went into the coastal region of Magadan.

Footnotes

(a)15:5 In other words, any gift that would have been given to one’s parents is still counted as benefiting them, even though it is not given to them.(Conte)

(b)15:5 The gift, etc:That is, the offering that I shall make to God, shall be instead of that which should be expended for thy profit. This tradition of the Pharisees was calculated to enrich themselves; by exempting children from giving any further assistance to their parents, if they once offered to the temple and the priests, that which should have been the support of their parents. But this was a violation of the law of God, and of nature, which our Saviour here condemns.(Challoner)

(c)15:9 Commandments of men:The doctrines and commandments here reprehended are such as are either contrary to the law of God, (as that of neglecting parents, under pretence of giving to God,) or at least are frivolous, unprofitable, and no ways conducing to true piety, as that of often washing hands, etc., without regard to the purity of the heart. But as to the rules and ordinances of the holy church, touching fasts, festivals, etc., these are no ways repugnant to, but highly agreeable to God’s holy word, and all Christian piety: neither are they to be counted among the doctrines and commandments of men; because they proceed not from mere human authority; but from that which Christ has established in his church; whose pastors he has commanded us to hear and obey, even as himself. St. Luke 10. 16; St. Matt. 18. 17.(Challoner)

(d)15:11 Not that which goes into, etc:No uncleanness in meat, nor any dirt contracted by eating it with unwashed hands, can defile the soul: but sin alone; or a disobedience of the heart to the ordinance and will of God. And thus when Adam took the forbidden fruit, it was not the apple, which entered into the mouth, but the disobedience to the law of God which defiled him. The same is to be said if a Jew, in the time of the old law, had eaten swine’s flesh; or a Christian convert, in the days of the apostles, contrary to their ordinance, had eaten blood; or if any of the faithful at present should transgress the ordinance of God’s church, by breaking the fasts: for in all these cases the soul would be defiled; not indeed by that which goes into the mouth; but by the disobedience of the heart, in wilfully transgressing the ordinance of God, or of those who have their authority from him.(Challoner)

(Mark 7:1–13)

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying,

“Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat bread.”

He answered them, “Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition?

For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ (a) and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’ (b)

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,”

he shall not honor his father or mother.’ You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition.

You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,

‘These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

And they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrine rules made by men.’” (c)

What Defiles a Man

(Mark 7:14–23)

He summoned the multitude, and said to them, “Hear, and understand.

That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”

Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

But he answered, “Every plant which my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted.

Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

Peter answered him, “Explain the parable to us.”

So Jesus said, “Do you also still not understand?

Don’t you understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly and then out of the body?

But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man.

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies.

These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn’t defile the man.”

The Faith of the Canaanite Woman

(Mark 7:24–30)

Jesus went out from there and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon.

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!”

But he answered her not a word. His disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away; for she cries after us.”

But he answered, “I wasn’t sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

But she came and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, help me.”

But he answered, “It is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

But she said, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

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.

The Feeding of the Four Thousand

(2 Kings 4:42–44; Mark 8:1–10)

Jesus departed from there and came near to the sea of Galilee; and he went up on the mountain and sat there.

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,

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.

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.”

The disciples said to him, “Where could we get so many loaves in a deserted place as to satisfy so great a multitude?”

Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.”

He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground;

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.

They all ate and were filled. They took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over.

Those who ate were four thousand men, in addition to women and children.

Then he sent away the multitudes, got into the boat, and came into the borders of Magdala.

Footnotes

(a)15:4 ℘ Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16

(b)15:4 ℘ Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9