Mark 6:45-7:10

New American Bible (Revised Edition)

⁴⁵ Then he made his disciples get into the boat^(A) and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida,^[a] while he dismissed the crowd. ^46 [b]And when he had taken leave of them, he went off to the mountain to pray. ⁴⁷ When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore. ⁴⁸ Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea.^[c] He meant to pass by them. ⁴⁹ But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. ^50 [d]They had all seen him and were terrified. But at once he spoke with them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” ⁵¹ He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were [completely] astounded. ⁵² They had not understood the incident of the loaves.^[e] On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.^(B)

The Healings at Gennesaret. ^53 (C)After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. ⁵⁴ As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. ⁵⁵ They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. ⁵⁶ Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.^(D)

Chapter 7

The Tradition of the Elders.^{[f] 1} Now when the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him,^{(E) 2} they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. ³ (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands,^[g] keeping the tradition of the elders. ⁴ And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles [and beds].) ⁵ So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders^[h] but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” ⁶ He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:^(F)

⁸ You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” ⁹ He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! ¹⁰ For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother shall die.’^(G)