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

1Then the Scribes and Pharisees, who were of Jerusalem, came to him and said, 2why do your disciples violate the tradition of our ancestors, in not washing their hands when they eat bread? 3but he answered them, why do you violate the law of God to follow your tradition? 4for this is a commandment of God, "honour thy father and mother; and, he that curses father or mother, let him be punish'd with death." 5but your doctrine is this, if any man declares to his father or mother, that whatever he has to give for their relief is dedicated to the temple; he is not oblig'd to regard his father or his mother. 6thus have ye disannull'd the commandment of God by your tradition. 7the prophecy of Esaias exactly suits such hypocrites as you;

8"this people, says he, draw nigh to me, they honour me with their lips: while their hearts are far from me.

9but in vain they worship me, teaching for doctrines the institutions of men."

What Defiles a Man
(Mark 7:14–23)

10Then he called the multitude and said to them, hear and understand. 11that which entereth by the mouth is not what defiles a man: but what defiles the man is that which is discharged by the mouth.

12Thereupon his disciples drawing nigh, said, did you observe, how the Pharisees were scandalized at your discourse? 13but he answered, every plantation which my heavenly father hath not planted shall be rooted up. 14let them alone: they are blind leaders of the blind, now if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

15then Peter said to him, tell us the meaning of that expression. 16and Jesus said, are ye also yet without understanding?

17do not ye yet conceive, that whatever enters at the mouth, passes to the belly, and is discharged downwards? 18but what proceeds out of the mouth, is deriv'd from the heart, and that defiles the man. 19out of the heart proceed evil designs, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimony, slanders. 20these are the things which defile a man: but to eat without washing one's hands, that does not defile a man.

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

21Then Jesus went thence, and retir'd towards the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22and there came a woman of Canaan from those quarters, and cried out to him, have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously tormented by a demon. 23but Jesus not making her any answer, his disciples came and entreated him to grant her request; for, said they, she is very importunate with us. 24but he answered, my commission was only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25however she advanc'd, and throwing her self at his feet, cried, O Lord, assist me. 26but he answered, it is not just to take the childrens bread, and throw it to puppies. 27'tis true, Lord, said she: yet even puppies eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table. 28then Jesus answered her, O woman, great is thy faith: as you desire, be it done, and her daughter was healed from that very hour.

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

29Jesus having left that place, drew nigh to the sea of Galilee, and went up a mountain, where he sat down. 30there a great crowd of people came to him, bringing with them the lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and laid them down at Jesus feet, and he healed them: 31insomuch that the people wondred when they perceived the dumb to speak, the maimed to be heal'd, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

32Then Jesus called his disciples, and said to them, I am concern'd for this people; they have attended me now three days, without eating: I will not send them away fasting, lest they saint by the way, but his disciples said to him, 33how can we get bread enough in the desert to satisfy such a multitude? 34Jesus asked, how many loaves have ye? they reply'd, seven, and a few small fish. 35and he bid the people sit down on the ground. 36then taking the seven loaves, and the fish, he gave thanks, and distributed them, by pieces, to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 37so that they all eat, and were satiated: the superfluous fragments they carried off, amounting to seven baskets full: 38though the guests were to the number of four thousand men, beside women and children.

39then dismissing the multitude, he embark'd, and came to the coast of Magada.