Matthew 15:10-20

Contemporary English Version

What Really Makes People Unclean

(Mark 7.14-23)

¹⁰ Jesus called the crowd together and said, “Pay attention and try to understand what I mean. ¹¹ The food you put into your mouth doesn't make you unclean and unfit to worship God. The bad words that come out of your mouth are what make you unclean.”

¹² Then his disciples came over to him and asked, “Do you know you insulted the Pharisees by what you said?”

¹³ Jesus answered, “Every plant that my Father in heaven did not plant will be pulled up by the roots. ^14 (A) Stay away from those Pharisees! They are like blind people leading other blind people, and all of them will fall into a ditch.”

¹⁵ Peter replied, “What did you mean when you talked about the things that make people unclean?”

¹⁶ Jesus then said:

Don't any of you know by now what I am talking about? ¹⁷ Don't you know that the food you put into your mouth goes into your stomach and then out of your body? ^18 (B) But the words that come out of your mouth come from your heart. And they are what make you unfit to worship God. ¹⁹ Out of your heart come evil thoughts, murder, unfaithfulness in marriage, vulgar deeds, stealing, telling lies, and insulting others. ²⁰ These are what make you unclean. Eating without washing your hands will not make you unfit to worship God.