Mark 7
7:1 Then the Pharisees, and some of the scribes gathered together to him, having come from Jerusalem.
7:2 Now when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is, unwashed, hands, they found fault.
7:3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, don't eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders.
7:4 They don't eat when they come from the marketplace, unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things, which they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and couches.
7:5 The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why don't your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?"
7:6 He answered them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7:7 But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'
7:8 "For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men--the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things."
7:9 He said to them, "Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.
7:10 For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother;' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.'
7:11 But you say, 'If a man tells his father or his mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban, that is to say, given to God;"'
7:12 then you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother,
7:13 making void the word of God by your tradition, which you have handed down. You do many things like this."
7:14 He called all the multitude to himself, and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand.
7:15 There is nothing from outside of the man, that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man.
7:16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"
7:17 When he had entered into a house away from the multitude, his disciples asked him about the parable.
7:18 He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Don't you perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him,
7:19 because it doesn't go into his heart, but into his stomach, then into the latrine, thus making all foods clean?"
7:20 He said, "That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man.
7:21 For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts,
7:22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness.
7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."
7:24 From there he arose, and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He entered into a house, and didn't want anyone to know it, but he couldn't escape notice.
7:25 For a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his feet.
7:26 Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. She begged him that he would cast the demon out of her daughter.
7:27 But Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not appropriate to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
7:28 But she answered him, "Yes, Lord. Yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."
7:29 He said to her, "For this saying, go your way. The demon has gone out of your daughter."
7:30 She went away to her house, and found the child having been laid on the bed, with the demon gone out.
7:31 Again he departed from the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and came to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the region of Decapolis.
7:32 They brought to him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech. They begged him to lay his hand on him.
7:33 He took him aside from the multitude, privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue.
7:34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha!" that is, "Be opened!"
7:35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke clearly.
7:36 He commanded them that they should tell no one, but the more he commanded them, so much the more widely they proclaimed it.
7:37 They were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes even the deaf hear, and the mute speak!"
II Corinthians 9
9:1 It is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the service to the saints,
9:2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for a year past. Your zeal has stirred up very many of them.
9:3 But I have sent the brothers that our boasting on your behalf may not be in vain in this respect, that, just as I said, you may be prepared,
9:4 so that I won't by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) should be disappointed in this confident boasting.
9:5 I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brothers that they would go before to you, and arrange ahead of time the generous gift that you promised before, that the same might be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness.
9:6 Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
9:7 Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.
9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work.
9:9 As it is written, "He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor. His righteousness remains forever."
9:10 Now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;
9:11 you being enriched in everything to all liberality, which works through us thanksgiving to God.
9:12 For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the saints, but abounds also through many givings of thanks to God;
9:13 seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Good News of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all;
9:14 while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, yearn for you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.
9:15 Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!
II Corinthians 10
10:1 Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you.
10:2 Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.
10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we don't wage war according to the flesh;
10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds,
10:5 throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
10:6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will be made full.
10:7 Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ's, so also we are Christ's.
10:8 For though I should boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down) I will not be disappointed,
10:9 that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters.
10:10 For, "His letters," they say, "are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised."
10:11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.
10:12 For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.
10:13 But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you.
10:14 For we don't stretch ourselves too much, as though we didn't reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the Good News of Christ,
10:15 not boasting beyond proper limits in other men's labors, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence,
10:16 so as to preach the Good News even to the parts beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done.
10:17 But "he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."
10:18 For it isn't he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
