CLEAN AND UNCLEAN

Matthew 15:1-20

Then some Pharisees and Teachers of the Law

Came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked,

2 'Why do your Disciples break the Tradition of the Elders?

They don't wash their hands before they ear!'

3 Jesus replied,

'AND WHY DO YOU BREAK THE COMMAND OF GOD

FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR TRADITION?

4 FOR GOD SAID, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER

AND ANYONE WHO CURSES HIS FATHER OR MOTHER

MUST BE PUT TO DEATH.

5 BUT YOU SAY THAT IF A MAN SAYS

TO HIS FATHER OR MOTHER,

WHATEVER HELP YOU MIGHT OTHERWISE

HAVE RECEIVED FROM ME

IS A GIFT DEVOTED TO GOD,

6 HE IS NOT TO HONOR HIS FATHER WITH IT.

THUS YOU NULLIFY THE WORD OF GOD

FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR TRADITION

7 YOU HYPOCRITES!

ISAIAH WAS RIGHT WHEN HE PROPHESIED ABOUT YOU:

8 These people honor Me with their lips,

But their hearts are far from Me

9 THEY WORSHIP ME IN VAIN

THEIR TEACHINGS ARE BUT RULES TAUGHT BY MEN.'

10 Jesus called the Crowd to Him and said,

'LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND.

11 WHAT GOES INTO A MAN'S MOUTH

DOES NOT MAKE HIM UNCLEAN,

BUT WHAT COMES OUT OF HIS MOUTH,

THAT IS WHAT MAKES HIM UNCLEAN.'

12 Then the Disciples came to Him and asked,

'DO YOU KNOW THAT THE PHARISEES WERE OFFENDED

WHEN THEY HEARD THIS?'

13 He replied,

'EVERY PLANT

THAT MY HEAENLY FATHER HAS NOT PLANTED

WILL BE PULLED UP BY THE ROOTS.

14 LEAVE THEM;

THEY ARE BLIND GUIDES.

IF A BLIND MAN LEDS A BLIND MAN,

BOTH FALL INTO A PIT.'

15 Peter said,

'Explain the Parable to us.'

16 ARE YOU SO DULL? Jesus asked them.

17 DON'T YOU SEE

THAT WHATEVER ENTERS THE MOUTH

GOES INTO THE STOMACH

AND THEN OUT OF THE BODY?

18 BUT THE THINGS

THAT COME OUT OF THE MOUTH

COME FROM THE HEART,

AND THESE MAKE A MAN UNCLEAN.

19 FOR OUT OF THE HEART

COME EVIL THOUGHTS,

MURDER, ADULTERY, SEXUAL IMMORALITY, THEFT,

FALSE TESTIMONY, SLANDER.

20 THESE ARE WHAT MAKE A MAN UNCLEAN;

BUT EATHING WITH UNWASHED HANDS

DOES NOT MAKE HIM UNCLEAN.'

(Matthew 15:1-20)

Today, does not the Church worship God

With rules taught by men?

Today, is not the Word of God Nullified

By many of the Traditions of men?

Today, are not many who are Blind

Leading many others who are equally Blind?

Today, is not the heart of many people

FILLED WITH EVIL THOUGHTS,

MURDER, ADULTERY, SEXUAL IMMORALITY, THEFT,

FALSE TESTIMONY, SLANDER.