Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, December 22nd, 2024
the Fourth Week of Advent
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Mace New Testament

Matthew 15

1 Then the Scribes and Pharisees, who were of Jerusalem, came to him and said, 2 why do your disciples violate the tradition of our ancestors, in not washing their hands when they eat bread? 3 but he answered them, why do you violate the law of God to follow your tradition? 4 for 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." 5 but 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. 6 thus have ye disannull'd the commandment of God by your tradition. 7 the 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. 9 but in vain they worship me, teaching for doctrines the institutions of men."

10 Then he called the multitude and said to them, hear and understand. 11 that which entereth by the mouth is not what defiles a man: but what defiles the man is that which is discharged by the mouth. 12 Thereupon his disciples drawing nigh, said, did you observe, how the Pharisees were scandalized at your discourse? 13 but he answered, every plantation which my heavenly father hath not planted shall be rooted up. 14 let them alone: they are blind leaders of the blind. now if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. 15 then Peter said to him, tell us the meaning of that expression. 16 and Jesus said, are ye also yet without understanding? 17 do not ye yet conceive, that whatever enters at the mouth, passes to the belly, and is discharged downwards? 18 but what proceeds out of the mouth, is deriv'd from the heart, and that defiles the man. 19 out of the heart proceed evil designs, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimony, slanders. 20 these are the things which defile a man: but to eat without washing one's hands, that does not defile a man.

21 Then Jesus went thence, and retir'd towards the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 and 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. 23 but 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. 24 but he answered, my commission was only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 however she advanc'd, and throwing her self at his feet, cried, O Lord, assist me. 26 but 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. 28 then Jesus answered her, O woman, great is thy faith: as you desire, be it done. and her daughter was healed from that very hour.

29 Jesus having left that place, drew nigh to the sea of Galilee, and went up a mountain, where he sat down. 30 there 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: 31 insomuch 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. 32 Then 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, 33 how can we get bread enough in the desert to satisfy such a multitude? 34 Jesus asked, how many loaves have ye? they reply'd, seven, and a few small fish. 35 and he bid the people sit down on the ground. 36 then taking the seven loaves, and the fish, he gave thanks, and distributed them, by pieces, to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 37 so that they all eat, and were satiated: the superfluous fragments they carried off, amounting to seven baskets full: 38 though the guests were to the number of four thousand men, beside women and children. 39 then dismissing the multitude, he embark'd, and came to the coast of Magada.

 
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