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

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

³ But he answered and said unto them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? ⁴ For God commanded, saying, Honor your father and mother: and, He that curses father or mother, let him die the death.

⁵ But you say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift devoted to God, whatsoever you might have received from me; ⁶ And honors not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have you made the commandment of God void by your tradition. ⁷ You hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,

⁸ These people draw near unto me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. ⁹ But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

¹ Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, who came from Jerusalem. ² And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashed, hands, they found fault. ³ For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands often, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. ⁴ And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, bronze vessels, and of tables. ⁵ Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not your disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?

⁶ He answered and said unto them, Well has Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. ⁷ But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

⁸ For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such things you do. ⁹ And he said unto them, Full well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your own tradition. ¹⁰ For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother; and, Whoever curses father or mother, let him die the death:

¹¹ But you say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift devoted to God, whatsoever you might have received from me; he shall be free. ¹² And you allow him no more to do anything for his father or his mother; ¹³ Making the word of God of no effect through your tradition, which you have delivered: and many such things do you.