Chapter
7
Then the Pharisees, and some of the scribes gathered together to her, having come from Jerusalem.
Now when they saw some of her disciples eating bread with defiled, that is, unwashed, hands, they found fault.
(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, don't eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders.
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.)
The Pharisees and the scribes asked her, "Why don't your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?"
She answered them, "Well did Isaia prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of women.'
"For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of women--the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things."
She said to them, "Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.
For Moses said, 'Honor your mother and your father;'{Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16} and, 'She who speaks evil of mother or father, let her be put to death.'
But you say, 'If a woman tells her mother or her father, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban, that is to say, given to God;"'
then you no longer allow her to do anything for her mother or her father,
making void the word of God by your tradition, which you have handed down. You do many things like this."
She called all the multitude to herself, and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand.
There is nothing from outside of the woman, that going into her can defile her; but the things which proceed out of the woman are those that defile the woman.
If anyone has ears to hear, let her hear!"
When she had entered into a house away from the multitude, her disciples asked her about the parable.
She said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Don't you perceive that whatever goes into the woman from outside can't defile her,
because it doesn't go into her heart, but into her stomach, then into the latrine, thus making all foods clean?"
She said, "That which proceeds out of the woman, that defiles the woman.
For from within, out of the hearts of women, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts,
covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness.
All these evil things come from within, and defile the woman."
From there she arose, and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. She entered into a house, and didn't want anyone to know it, but she couldn't escape notice.
For a man, whose little son had an unclean spirit, having heard of her, came and fell down at her feet.
Now the man was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. He begged her that she would cast the demon out of his son.
But Jesus said to him, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not appropriate to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
But he answered her, "Yes, Domina. Yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."
She said to him, "For this saying, go your way. The demon has gone out of your son."
He went away to his house, and found the child having been laid on the bed, with the demon gone out.
Again she departed from the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and came to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the region of Decapolis.
They brought to her one who was deaf and had an impediment in her speech. They begged her to lay her hand on her.
She took her aside from the multitude, privately, and put her fingers into her ears, and she spat, and touched her tongue.
Looking up to heaven, she sighed, and said to her, "Ephphatha!" that is, "Be opened!"
Immediately her ears were opened, and the impediment of her tongue was released, and she spoke clearly.
She commanded them that they should tell no one, but the more she commanded them, so much the more widely they proclaimed it.
They were astonished beyond measure, saying, "She has done all things well. She makes even the deaf hear, and the mute speak!"