Matthew 15:1-9 - Human Traditions And God's Commandments

¹ Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees that were of Jerusalem, saying: ² Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.

³ But he answered and said to them: And why do you transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? ⁴ For God commanded, saying, Honor your father and your mother; and, He that curses father or mother shall surely be put to death.

⁵ But you say, Whoever shall say to his father or his mother, Whatever of mine might profit you, is a gift, he must in no way honor his father or his mother; ⁶ and you make the commandment of God of no effect for the sake of your tradition. ⁷ Hypocrites! well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,

⁸ This people draws near to me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. ⁹ But in vain, do they worship me, teaching precepts, the commandments of men.

¹ And there came together to him the Pharisees, and some of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem: ² and when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with common, that is, with unwashed hands: ³ (for the Pharisees and all the Jews eat not, unless they wash their hands carefully, because they hold the tradition of the elders: ⁴ and when they come from the market, they do not eat, unless they immerse themselves. And there are many other things, which they have received to hold, as the immersion of cups and pitchers and brazen vessels and beds:) ⁵ then the Pharisees and the scribes asked him: Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?

⁶ He answered and said to 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 In vain do they worship me, teaching precepts, the commandments of men.

⁸ For, neglecting the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, the immersion of pitchers and cups; and many other things like these you do. ⁹ And he said to them: Well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your own tradition. ¹⁰ For Moses said: Honor your father and your mother; and, He that curses father or mother shall surely be put to death.

¹¹ But you say: If a man shall say to his father or mother, What ever of mine might benefit you, is Corban, (which means, a gift,) ¹² you no longer suffer him to do any thing for his father or mother, ¹³ making the word of God of no effect by your tradition, which you have delivered; and many things like these you do.