« | Matthew 15 | » |
1 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem approached Jesus, saying,
2 "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands whenever they eat bread."
3 He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God on account of your tradition?
4 For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, with death let him die.'
5 But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "[It is] a gift [to God], whatever profit you might have received from me"--
6 then by no means should he honor his father or mother.' Thus you have nullified the commandment of God on account of your tradition.
7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying,
8 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and they honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"
10 And having summoned the crowd, He said to them, "Hear and understand:
11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."
12 Then His disciples approached and said to Him, " You know that when the Pharisees heard this message they were offended?"
13 But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.
14 Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. And if the blind guides the blind, both will fall into a ditch."
15 Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain to us this parable."
16 So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding?
17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach, and is cast out into a latrine?
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.
19 For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."
21 And going out from there, Jesus withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon.
22 And behold, a Canaanite woman coming forth from that region cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed."
23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples approached and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us."
24 But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
25 Then she came and worshipped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!"
26 But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and to throw [it] to the little dogs."
27 But she said, "Yes, Lord, for even the little dogs eat from the crumbs falling from their masters' table."
28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
29 And moving on from there, Jesus came alongside the Sea of Galilee, and going up into a mountain, He sat down there.
30 And great crowds came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they put them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed them.
31 So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.
32 Now Jesus, having summoned His disciples, He said, "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been remaining with Me three days, and they do not have anything to eat. And I do not desire to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way."
33 Then His disciples said to Him, "Where could we get so many loaves of bread in [this] deserted place, so as to satisfy so great a crowd?"
34 Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven, and a few small fish."
35 So He commanded the crowds to recline on the ground.
36 And He took the seven loaves and the fish, having given thanks, He broke [them], and gave [them] to His disciples; and the disciples [gave] to the crowd.
37 So they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up what they had left of the fragments, seven hampers full.
38 Now those who ate were four thousand men, apart from women and children.
39 And having dismissed the crowds, He went up into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala.
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC)
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC) is a modern translation of the Bible that strives to offer a clear and faithful rendering of the scriptures in contemporary language. This translation is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, providing an easy-to-read yet accurate version of the biblical text. The ABC translation aims to bridge the gap between the ancient languages in which the Bible was originally written and the modern vernacular, making it an ideal choice for both personal study and public reading.
One of the notable features of the Apostles’ Bible Complete is its dedication to maintaining the integrity of the original manuscripts. The translators of the ABC worked meticulously with the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts to ensure that their translation accurately reflects the original meaning and intent of the scriptures. By employing a balance of formal equivalence (word-for-word) and dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought) translation techniques, the ABC aims to preserve the nuances and richness of the original languages while ensuring readability and clarity for modern readers.
The ABC also incorporates extensive cross-references and study aids to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These tools include footnotes that provide historical and cultural context, as well as explanations of difficult or ambiguous passages. This approach helps readers to grasp the deeper meanings of the scriptures and to see how different parts of the Bible interconnect. The inclusion of these study aids makes the ABC particularly useful for those who are new to the Bible, as well as for more experienced readers who are looking to deepen their understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the Apostles’ Bible Complete has faced some criticisms. Some readers feel that the translation could benefit from further refinement in certain passages, as the balance between formal and dynamic equivalence can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in style and tone. Others have noted that while the study aids are helpful, they can occasionally overwhelm the main text, making it difficult to focus on the scripture itself. Nonetheless, the ABC remains a valuable and respected translation, appreciated for its commitment to accuracy, clarity, and accessibility, and for its ability to bring the ancient words of the Bible to life for contemporary readers.