The Tradition of the Elders
(Mark 7:1–13)

1Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees that were of Jerusalem, saying: 2Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they do not wash their hands when they eat bread. 3But he answered and said to them: And why do you transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4For God commanded, saying, Honor your father and your mother; and, He that curses father or mother shall surely be put to death. 5But you say, Whoever shall say to his father or his mother, Whatever of mine might profit you, is a gift, he must in no way honor his father or his mother; 6and you make the commandment of God of no effect for the sake of your tradition. 7Hypocrites! well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,

8This people draws near to me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

9But in vain, do they worship me, teaching precepts, the commandments of men.

What Defiles a Man
(Mark 7:14–23)

10And he called the multitude to him, and said to them: Hear and understand; 11That which enters the mouth does not defile the man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles the man.

12Then came his disciples and said to him: Dost thou know that the Pharisees, when they heard that saying, were offended? 13But he answered and said: Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted, shall be rooted up. 14Let them alone; they are blind leaders of the blind; and if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the pit.

15But Peter answered and said to him: Explain to us this dark saying. 16Jesus replied: Are you also yet without understanding?

17Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth passes into the belly, and is cast out into the sink? 18But those things which go out from the mouth, come from the heart; and these defile the man. 19For from the heart come evil reasonings, murders, adulteries, lewd actions, thefts, false testimonies, impious words. 20These are the things that defile the man. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.

The Faith of the Canaanite Woman
(Mark 7:24–30)

21And Jesus went out thence, and withdrew into the regions of Tyre and Sidon. 22And behold, a woman of Chanaan came out from those borders, and cried to him, saying: Have mercy on me, Lord, son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a demon. 23But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying: Send her away, for she cries after us. 24But he answered and said: I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25But she came and did him homage, saying: Lord, help me. 26He answered and said: It is not good to take the children's bread, and throw it to the little dogs. 27She replied: Yes, Lord; and yet thou canst help me; for the little dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from the table of their masters. 28Then Jesus answered and said to her: woman, great is your faith; be it to you as you desire. And her daughter was restored to health from that hour.

The Feeding of the Four Thousand
(Mark 8:1–10)

29And Jesus departed thence, and came near the sea of Galilee, and went up into the mountain, and sat there. 30And many multitudes came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deaf, the maimed, and many others; and laid them at the feet of Jesus, and he cured them; 31so that the multitudes were astonished, when they saw the dumb speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

32Then Jesus called his disciples to him, and said: I have compassion on the multitude, because they have been with me now three days, and have nothing to eat. And I am not willing to send them away fasting, lest they faint on the road. 33And his disciples said to him: Whence should we have in the desert as many loaves as would satisfy so great a multitude? 34And Jesus said to them: How many loaves have you? They said: Seven, and a few little fishes. 35And he commanded the multitude to recline on the ground. 36And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and broke, and gave thorn to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the multitude. 37And they all ate and were satisfied; and they took up what remained of the broken pieces, seven baskets full. 38And those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.

39And he sent the multitudes away, and entered the ship, and went into the borders of Magdala.