²¹ For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, ²² adultery, greed,^(A) malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. ²³ All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

Jesus Honors a Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith^(B)

²⁴ Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre.^[a](C) He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. ²⁵ In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit^(D) came and fell at his feet. ²⁶ The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

²⁷ “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

²⁸ “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

²⁹ Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”

³⁰ She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Jesus Heals a Deaf and Mute Man^(E)

³¹ Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre^(F) and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee^(G) and into the region of the Decapolis.^{[b](H) 32} There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk,^(I) and they begged Jesus to place his hand on^(J) him.

³³ After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit^(K) and touched the man’s tongue. ³⁴ He looked up to heaven^(L) and with a deep sigh^(M) said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). ³⁵ At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.^(N)

³⁶ Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone.^(O) But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. ³⁷ People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

⁹ Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?^(A) Do not be deceived:^(B) Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers^(C) nor men who have sex with men^{[a](D) 10} nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers^(E) will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And that is what some of you were.^(F) But you were washed,^(G) you were sanctified,^(H) you were justified^(I) in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Sexual Immorality

¹² “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.^(J) “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. ¹³ You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.”^(K) The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord,^(L) and the Lord for the body. ¹⁴ By his power God raised the Lord from the dead,^(M) and he will raise us also.^{(N) 15} Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself?^(O) Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! ¹⁶ Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”^{[b](P) 17} But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.^[c](Q)

¹⁸ Flee from sexual immorality.^(R) All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.^{(S) 19} Do you not know that your bodies are temples^(T) of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;^{(U) 20} you were bought at a price.^(V) Therefore honor God with your bodies.^(W)

¹⁸ Flee from sexual immorality.^(A) All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.^(B)

²¹ I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved^(A) over many who have sinned earlier^(B) and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery^(C) in which they have indulged.

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,^(A) impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.^(B) I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.^(C)

²² But the fruit^(D) of the Spirit is love,^(E) joy, peace,^(F) forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control.^(G) Against such things there is no law.^{(H) 24} Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh^(I) with its passions and desires.^{(J) 25} Since we live by the Spirit,^(K) let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited,^(L) provoking and envying each other.

¹⁹ Having lost all sensitivity,^(A) they have given themselves over^(B) to sensuality^(C) so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

³ But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,^(A) or of any kind of impurity, or of greed,^(B) because these are improper for God’s holy people.

⁵ For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater^(A)—has any inheritance^(B) in the kingdom of Christ and of God.^[a](C)