Defilement Comes from Within(A)

Then (B)the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. Now [a]when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with (C)unwashed hands, [b]they found fault. For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands [c]in a special way, holding the (D)tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.

(E)Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”

He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you (F)hypocrites, as it is written:

(G)‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—[d]the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 7:2 NU omits when
  2. Mark 7:2 NU omits they found fault
  3. Mark 7:3 Lit. with the fist
  4. Mark 7:8 NU omits the rest of v. 8.

14 (A)When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and (B)understand: 15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that (C)defile a man.

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20 And He said, (A)“What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 (B)For from within, out of the heart of men, (C)proceed evil thoughts, (D)adulteries, (E)fornications, murders, 22 thefts, (F)covetousness, wickedness, (G)deceit, (H)lewdness, an evil eye, (I)blasphemy, (J)pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

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