5 Jesus called to the multitudes, saying, "Hear and understand. Not that which goes into the mouth of a man defiles him, but that which comes out of a man's mouth defiles him."
6 Then came the apostles and said unto Jesus "Do you not know the Pharisees were offended after you said these things?"
7 Jesus answered them, saying, "Every plant which my Father in Heaven has not planted shall be ripped up. Let them alone. They are the blind leading the blind. If the blind lead the blind they shall surely fall over a precipice. Let the foolish be foolish, but be you wise."
8 Then Peter begged of Him, "Explain to us this parable."
9 Jesus said to him, "Why are you STILL without understanding? Do not you yet understand that whatever goes into the mouth ends up in the belly, and is cast out into the sewer? But those things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, they show what is within a man, and they define him.
10 For out of the heart comes all evil, murder, adultry, fornication, theft, false witness and worse yet, blasphemy. These are the things which destroy a man.
11 But to eat with unwashed hands does not destroy a man unless his hands have been where they should not have been."
12 Andrew spoke to Jesus saying, "But Lord, even Demetrius washes his hands before he eats. Should we not be as clean as he?"
13 Jesus answered him, saying, "You hear not, you do not listen. Of course one should keep himself clean. I do not say that this is not good. I DO say that when it becomes a matter of obsession, when it becomes a ritual that commands one's life, its purpose is perverted.
14 God will not damn a man because once or twice he forgets to wash his hands. God taught you to wash your hands to keep you from sickness, not to find a reason to cast you into Hell.
15 Understand WHY God taught you things, listen NOT to the ravings of man, but to the wishes of God." 16 Andrew finally understood what Jesus said.
17 Then Jesus went on to the cities of the coast unto Tyre and Sidon. There came out a woman crying unto Him, "Have mercy on me, oh Lord, you Son Of David! My daughter is held by a demon who will not release her!"
18 But Jesus did not answer her. His apostles came and begged Him, "Send her away! Her crying torments us!"
19 He answered them, saying, "Am I not sent only for the lost sheep of Israel?"
20 When the woman came and worshipped Him, saying, "Lord, I know that you are not for Israel, alone. But you have come for all the world."
21 Jesus answered her, saying, "Am I to take the bread of my children and cast it to the dogs?"
22 She answered Him, saying, "True, Lord, yet the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from the master's table."
23 Then Jesus took pity on her and said, "Oh, woman, great is your fate. That which you desire shall be done."
24 He turned to Demetrius saying, "Go with her, and send that abomination that troubles her daughter to Hell!"
25 Demetrius did as Jesus had commanded him, returning to the apostles.
26 Peter said to Simon, "Great is His Power that it can reach even beyond Israel. Can there be any greater of God?"
27 They passed on through that land healing the lame, the blind, the dumb, and, casting out more evil.
28 They went up into Galilee, sat down there, and even more came to be healed.
29 Again there was a great multitude with them. There was not enough for them to eat. As He had done before, Jesus fed them with seven loaves and a few fishes. Then, again, there were baskets full for the morning.
30 The number that He fed was over sixteen-thousand.
31 In the morning He sent them away and took ship to the coast of Magdala.
"WHO AM I?"
Chapter Thirty-Nine
There came Pharisees. Also there were Sadducees with them. They beseeched Christ to show them signs from Heaven to prove that He was The Messiah.
2 He answered them thusly. "When it is evening you say it will be a fair day for the sky is red.
3 In the morning you say it will be a foul day, for the sky is red and lowering.
4 Oh, you hypocrites! You can reckon the face of the sky, but you cannot reckon the signs of the times.
5 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after signs, and no matter how many signs they are given it will not be enough for them to know who it is that stands before them. This is what the prophet Johnas meant when he spoke."
6 He went up and left them. They were not satisfied, and went back to Jerusalem saying, "He is not The One."
7 When the apostles rejoined Him they had forgotten to bring food. Then Jesus warned them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Saducees."
8 They reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have forgotten to bring food that He says this."
9 Which, when Jesus heard He rebuked them. "Oh, you of little faith! Why do you reason among yourselves because you forget to bring food? Do you not yet understand nor remember the loaves and the fishes, the many baskets you took up? What is the food of this world? It sustains you but for a short time, yet if you need it, the needs of thousands can you fulfill."
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