Bible In Poetry: Gospel Of St. Matthew (Chapter 15) Poem by Dr John Celes

The Pharisees and scribes who came
From Jerusalem asked Jesus,
‘Your disciples break traditions
Of elders like washing their hands
Each time, before eating a meal? ’

But Jesus answered them and asked,
‘Why do you break God’s commandment
For tradition’s sake? For God said,
‘Honor your Father and Mother.
Whoev’r curses parents, shall die.’

‘You nullify the word of God;
So, Isaiah did prophesy
About you well, you hypocrites:
‘They honor me by their lips just
Their hearts are far away from me.’
‘They worship me with vanity
And teach as doctrines, mere precepts.’

He called the crowd and said to them,
‘Hear well and understand this thing:
What enters mouth does not defile
What mouth utters, only defiles.’
His disciples then said to Him,
‘The Pharisees were offended
When they had heard of what you said.’

Then, He said, ‘Each plant, that has not
Been planted by my Father then,
Will be uprooted definitely.’
Leave them alone, they are blind guides;
If one blind leads another then,
Both may happen to fall in pit.’

Then Peter asked Jesus, ‘O Lord,
Explain this parable to us.’
‘You stay without understanding!
All which enters the mouth enters
The stomach and is expelled then.
The things that come out of your mouth,
Come from your heart and they defile.
For, from your hearts come evil thoughts-
False witness, theft, adultery,
Unchastity, theft, blasphemy.
These are the things that one defile;
To eat with unwashed hands does not.’

Then Jesus went to Tyre, Sidon.
A Canaanite woman came there
And said, ‘O Lord, Son of David,
A demon has seized my daughter.
Have pity on her and on me.’

But He didn’t say a word to her.
His disciples said, ‘Send her out
For, she is troubling our Master.’

Then Jesus said, ‘I was just sent
For sheep of house of Israel lost.
The woman came again and said, ‘
Help me, O Lord, show some pity.’

When Jesus said, ‘It is not right
To throw children’s food o’er to dogs! ’
She said, ‘Lord, ev’n dogs can feed on
Scraps of food that from master’s table fall! ’

Then Jesus said, ‘You have great faith,
Let it happen as per your wish.’
Her daughter got healed at that hour.

Jesus then climbed the mountain-side
But even there, great crowds did come.
They placed the lame, blind, deformed, mute,
And many others at His feet.
Then Jesus cured each one of them.
The crowds were simply much amazed,
By miracles that Jesus did.
They glorified Israel’s Lord, God! ’

Then Jesus called His disciples
And said, ‘My heart pities the crowd.
They’ve been with us for three days now.
They had nothing to eat till date;
I don’t want them to leave hungry,
For, they could collapse on the way.’

His disciples asked, ‘Whence can we
Get enough bread for such large crowds,
In such a lonely place like this? ’

Then Jesus asked His disciples,
‘How many loaves do you’ve with you?
‘Seven, and a few fish, ’ they said.

He asked the crowd to be seated.
He took the bread and fish, gave thanks,
He broke and gave it to each one.
They ate and were much satisfied;
Remainder filled baskets seven.

Four thousand men had eaten well,
Not counting children and women.
And when He had dismissed the crowds,
By boat, He went to Magadan.


(6-3-2007)