Matthew 14:22–15:20

Jesus Walks on the Water

22 And immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent away the crowds. 23 And after he* sent away the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. So when* evening came, he was there alone. 24 But the boat was already many stadia distant from the land, being beaten by the waves, because the wind was against it. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But the disciples, when they* saw him walking on the sea, were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Have courage, I am he! Do not be afraid!” 28 And Peter answered him and* said, “Lord, if ⌊it is you⌋,d command me to come to you on the water!” 29 So he said, “Come!” And getting out of the boat, Peter walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he* saw the strong wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus extended hise hand and* caught him and said to him, “You of little faith! Why did you doubt?” 32 And when* they got into the boat, the wind abated. 33 So those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God!”

Many Healed at Gennesaret

34 And after they* had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35 And when* the men of that place recognized him, they sent word into that whole surrounding region, and they brought to him all those ⌊who were sick⌋.f 36 And they were imploring him that they might only touch the edgeg of his cloak, and all those who touched it* were cured.

Human Traditions and God’s Commandments

15 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat ⌊a meal⌋.”a 3 So he answered and* said to them, “Why do you also break the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God said, ‘Honor your* father and your* mother,’b and ‘The one who speaks evil of father or mother ⌊must certainly die⌋c.’d 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his* father or his* mother, “Whatever ⌊benefit you would have received⌋e from me is a gift to God,” 6 need not honor his father,’f and you make void the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Isaiah correctly prophesied about you saying,

8 ‘This people honors me with their* lips,

but their heart is far, far away from me,

9 and they worship me in vain,

teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”g

Defilement from Within

10 And summoning the crowd, he said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth—this defiles a person.” 12 Then the disciples came and* said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they* heard this saying?” 13 And he answered and* said, “Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted. 14 Leth them! They are blind guides of the blind. And if the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter answered and* said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” 16 But he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not understand that everything that enters into the mouth goes into the stomach and is evacuated into the latrine? 18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these defile the person. 19 For from the heart come evil plans, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, abusive speech. 20 These are the things that defile a person. But eating with unwashed hands does not defile a person!”