Matthew 15:1-39 NKJV

[1] Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, [2] "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread." [3] He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? [4] For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' [5] But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God"- [6] then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. [7] Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: [8] 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. [9] And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' " [10] When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand: [11] Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." [12] Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" [13] But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. [14] Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch." [15] Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain this parable to us." [16] So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding? [17] Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? [18] But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. [19] For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. [20] These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man." [21] Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. [22] And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed." [23] But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us." [24] But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." [25] Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" [26] But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." [27] And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." [28] Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour. [29] Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there. [30] Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed them. [31] So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel. [32] Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way." [33] Then His disciples said to Him, "Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?" [34] Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven, and a few little fish." [35] So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. [36] And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. [37] So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. [38] Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. [39] And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala.