Matthew 14:13-36; Matthew 15:1-20

Matthew 14:13-36

13 Now [when] Jesus heard [it], he withdrew from there in a boat to an isolated place by himself. And [when] the crowds heard [it], they followed him by land from the towns.

14 And [as he] got out, he saw the large crowd and had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15 Now [when it] was evening, the disciples came to him saying, "The place is desolate and the hour {is late}. Release the crowds so that they can go away into the villages [and] purchase food for themselves."

16 But Jesus said to them, "They do not {need} to go away. You give them [something] to eat."

17 And they said to him, "We do not have [anything] here except five loaves and two fish."

18 So he said, "Bring them here to me."

19 And he commanded the crowds to recline for a meal on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish [and] looking up to heaven, he gave thanks. And [after] breaking [them], he gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples [gave them] to the crowds.

20 And they all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.

21 Now those who ate were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.

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}, 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 his 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!"

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}.

36 And they were imploring him that they might only touch the edge of his cloak, and all those who touched [it] were cured.

Matthew 15:1-20

1 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}."

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,' and 'The one who speaks evil of father or mother {must certainly die}.'

5 But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or his mother, "Whatever {benefit you would have received} from me [is] a gift [to God],"

6 need not honor his father,' 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.'"

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 Let 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!"