When Jesus knew…that his disciples murmured at his illustration, he said unto them, "Does this offend you? What…if you shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who would betray him.) And Jesus said, "Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Then said Jesus unto the twelve, "Will you also go away?"

Then Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that you are that Christ, the Son of the living God."

Jesus answered the disciples, "Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?" (He spoke of Judas Iscariot…for he it was that would betray Jesus….)

Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, "Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they wash not their hands when they eat bread." (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands often, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, unless they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold fast, as the washing of cups, and pots, copper containers, and of tables).

But Jesus answered and said unto the scribes and Pharisees, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and mother…. But you say, ‘whoever shall say to his father or his mother, "It is a gift to the temple…whatever you might have received in support from me"; and honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free.’ Thus have you made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

"You hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, ‘This people draws near unto me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.’ "

And Jesus called the crowd, and said unto them, "Hear, and understand: Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."

Then came his disciples, and said unto Jesus, "Know you that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?"

But Jesus answered and said, "Every plant, which my heavenly Father has not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."

Then answered Peter and said unto him, "Declare unto us this parable."

And Jesus said, "…Do not you yet understand, that whatever enters in at the mouth goes into the belly, and is eliminated? But those things, which proceed out of the mouth, come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashed hands defiles not a man."

After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.

Then Jesus went from there, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And look, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto Jesus, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, you Son of David; my daughter is grievously possessed with a devil." But Jesus answered her not a word. And his disciples came and implored him, saying, "Send her away; for she cries after us."

But Jesus answered and said, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

Then came the woman and worshipped him, saying, "Lord, help me."

But Jesus answered and said, "It is not approved to take the children's bread, and to throw it to dogs."

And she said, "Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."

Then Jesus answered and said unto her, "O woman, great is your faith: be it unto you even as you will." And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

And Jesus departed from there, and came near unto the Sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. And they brought unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to put his hand upon him.

And Jesus took him aside from the crowd, and put his fingers into the man’s ears, and he spit, and touched the man’s tongue; and looking up to heaven, Jesus sighed, and said unto him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." And immediately the man’s ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.

And Jesus charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; And were beyond measure astonished, saying, "Jesus has done all things well: he makes both the deaf to hear, and the mute to speak."

Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Jesus: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead; And Herod said, "John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things?" And he desired to see Jesus.

And great crowds came unto Jesus, having with them those that were lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: So that the people wondered, when they saw the mute to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

In those days the crowds being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said unto them, "I have compassion on the people, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for some of them came from far."

And his disciples answered him, "From where can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?"

And Jesus asked them, "How many loaves have you?"

And they said, "Seven."

And Jesus commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and broke, and gave to his disciples…and they did set them before the people.

And they had a few small fish: and Jesus blessed, and commanded to set them also before the people. So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken food that was left seven baskets. And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and Jesus sent them away. And immediately he entered into a boat with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.

The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and testing requested Jesus that he would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, "When it is evening, you say, ‘it will be fair weather: for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘it will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and cloudy.’ O you hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky; but can you not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah." And he left them, and departed.

REFERENCES

John 6:61-71; Matthew 15:1-2; Mark 7:3-4; Matthew 15:2-20; John 7:1; Matthew 15:21-29; Mark 7:32-37; Luke 9:7, 9; Matthew 15:30-31; Mark 8:1-10; Matthew 16:1-4.

CHAPTER 73