31 Bible Verses about Traditions

Now this was the manner of old time in Israel concerning purchase and changing, for to establish all things: that a man must pluck off his shoe and give it his neighbour, and this was a witness in Israel.

And Jeremiah lamented Josiah, and all singing men and singing women speak of Josiah to this day, and made it an ordinance in Israel: and they be written in lamentations.

Thou mayest mourn by thyself alone, but use no deadly lamentation. Hold on thy bonnet, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, cover not thy face, and eat no mourner's bread."

For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands often, eat not; observing the traditions of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash themselves they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have taken upon them to observe, as the washing of cups and cruses, and of brazen vessels, and of tables.

And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

Then took they the body of Jesus and wound it in linen clothes with the odors as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

I commend you brethren that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances even as I delivered them to you.

Examine all things, and keep that which is good.

And what things thou hast heard of me, many bearing witness, the same deliver to faithful men, which are apt to teach others.

Take heed to thyself therefore only and keep thy soul diligently, that thou forget not the things which thine eyes have seen, and that they depart not out of thine heart, all the days of thine life: but teach them thy sons, and thy son's sons. The day that I stood before the LORD your God in Horeb - when he said unto me, 'Gather me the people together, that I may make them hear my words that they may learn to fear me as long as they live upon the earth and that they may teach their children' -

And these words which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart. And thou shalt whet them on thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou art at home in thine house and as thou walkest by the way; and when thou liest down and when thou risest up.

and teach them your children: so that thou talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down and when thou risest up:

That which I delivered unto you I received of the Lord. For the Lord Jesus the same night in the which he was betrayed, took bread,

and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets - Jesus Christ being the head cornerstone -

Therefore, brethren, stand fast and keep the ordinances which ye have learned: whether it were by our preaching, or by our epistle.

We require you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh inordinately, and not after the institution which ye received of us.

He answered, and said unto them, "Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God, through your traditions? For God commanded, saying, 'Honour thy father and mother,' and, 'He that curseth father or mother, shall suffer death.' But ye say, 'Every man shall say to his father or mother: That which thou desirest of me to help thee with, is given God.'read more.
And so shall he not honour his father or his mother. And thus have ye made, that the commandment of God is without effect, through your traditions.

And he said unto them, "Well, ye cast aside the commandment of God, to maintain your own traditions. For Moses said, 'Honour thy father and thy mother,' and, 'Whosoever curseth father or mother, let him die for it.' But ye say, 'A man shall say to his father or mother, Corban; which is, that thou desirest of me, to help thee with, is given to God.'read more.
And so ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother, making the word of God of none effect through your own traditions which ye have ordained. And many such things ye do."

Beware lest any man come and spoil you through philosophy and deceitful vanity, through the traditions of men, and ordinances after the world, and not after Christ.

Ye keep the ordinances of Omri, and all the customs of the house of Ahab: Ye follow their pleasures, therefore will I make thee waste, and cause thy inhabiters to be abhorred, O my people: and thus shalt thou bear thine own shame.

Wherefore, if ye be dead with Christ from ordinances of the world: Why as though ye yet lived in the world, are ye led with traditions of them that say "Touch not; Taste not; Handle not:" which all perish with the using of them, and are after the commandments, and doctrines of men:

This witness is true, wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, and not taking heed to Jews fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees did fast, and they therefore came and said unto him, "Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, and thy disciples fast not?" And Jesus said unto them, "Can the children of a wedding fast, while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them and then shall they fast in those days.read more.
Also no man seweth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for then taketh he away the new piece from the old, and so is the rent worse. In like wise, no man poureth new wine into old vessels, for if he do, the new wine breaketh the vessels, and the wine runneth out, and the vessels are marred. But new wine must be poured into new vessels."

Then came the disciples of John to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?" And Jesus said unto them, "Can the wedding children mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The time will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. No man pieceth an old garment with a piece of new cloth. For then taketh he away the piece again from the garment, and the rent is made greater.read more.
Neither do men put new wine into old vessels: for then the vessels break, and the wine runneth out, and the vessels perish: but they pour new wine into new vessels, and so are both saved together."

Then they said unto him, "Why do the disciples of John fast often and pray: and the disciples of the Pharisees also: and thine eat and drink?" And he said unto them, "Can ye make the Children of the wedding fast, as long as the bridegroom is present with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them: then shall they fast in those days."read more.
Then he spake unto them in a similitude, "No man putteth a piece of a new garment, into an old vesture: for if he do, then breaketh he the new: and the piece that was taken out of the new, agreeth not with the old. Also no man poureth new wine into old vessels: for if he do, the new wine breaketh the vessels, and runneth out itself, and the vessels perish: But new wine must be poured into new vessels, and both are preserved. Also no man that drinketh old wine, straightway can away with new, for he sayeth: the old is pleasanter."

Forasmuch as ye know how that ye were not redeemed with corruptible gold and silver from your vain conversation, which ye received by the traditions of the fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb undefiled, and without spot,

"Why do thy disciples transgress the traditions of the elders? For they wash not their hands, when they eat bread."

Then asked him the Pharisees and scribes, "Why walk not thy disciples according to the traditions of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?"

And when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him in the face, for he was worthy to be blamed. For yer that certain came from James, he ate with the gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision, and the other Jews dissembled likewise; Insomuch that Barnabas was brought into their simulation also.read more.
But when I saw that they went not the right way after the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter, before all men, "If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of the gentiles, and not as do the Jews: why causest thou the gentiles to live as do the Jews?" We which are Jews by nature and not sinners of the gentiles, know that a man is not justified by the deeds of the law: but by the faith of Jesus Christ - and therefore we have believed on Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the deeds of the law: because that no flesh shall be justified by the deeds of the law.

But now, seeing ye know God - yea rather are known of God - how is it that ye turn again unto the weak and beggarly ceremonies, whereunto again ye desire afresh to be in bondage? Ye observe the days, and months, and times, and years. I am in fear of you, lest I have bestowed on you labour in vain.