7:1  Then the Pharisees, and some of the scribes gathered together to him, having come from Jerusalem.

7:2  Now when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is, unwashed, hands, they found fault.

7:3  (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, don't eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders.

7:4  They don't eat when they come from the marketplace, unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things, which they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and couches.)

7:5  The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why don't your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?"

7:6  He answered them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, But their heart is far from me.

7:7  But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

7:8  "For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men--the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things."

7:9  He said to them, "Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.

7:10  For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother;' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.'

7:11  But you say, 'If a man tells his father or his mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban, that is to say, given to God;"'

7:12  then you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother,

7:13  making void the word of God by your tradition, which you have handed down. You do many things like this."

7:14  He called all the multitude to himself, and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand.

7:15  There is nothing from outside of the man, that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man.

7:16  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"

7:17  When he had entered into a house away from the multitude, his disciples asked him about the parable.

7:18  He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Don't you perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside can't defile him,

7:19  because it doesn't go into his heart, but into his stomach, then into the latrine, thus making all foods clean?"

7:20  He said, "That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man.

7:21  For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts,

7:22  covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness.

7:23  All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."

7:24  From there he arose, and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He entered into a house, and didn't want anyone to know it, but he couldn't escape notice.

7:25  For a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his feet.

7:26  Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. She begged him that he would cast the demon out of her daughter.

7:27  But Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not appropriate to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."

7:28  But she answered him, "Yes, Lord. Yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."

7:29  He said to her, "For this saying, go your way. The demon has gone out of your daughter."

7:30  She went away to her house, and found the child having been laid on the bed, with the demon gone out.

7:31  Again he departed from the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and came to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the region of Decapolis.

7:32  They brought to him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech. They begged him to lay his hand on him.

7:33  He took him aside from the multitude, privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue.

7:34  Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha!" that is, "Be opened!"

7:35  Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke clearly.

7:36  He commanded them that they should tell no one, but the more he commanded them, so much the more widely they proclaimed it.

7:37  They were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes even the deaf hear, and the mute speak!"