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

¹ Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, 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, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? ⁴ For God commanded, saying, "Honor your father and mother"; and, "He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him die by death."

⁵ But you say, Whoever says to his father or mother, Whatever you would gain from me, It is a gift to God; ⁶ and in no way he honors his father or his mother. And you voided the commandment of God by 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 they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

¹ And the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. ² And when they saw some of His disciples eating loaves with unclean hands, that is with unwashed hands, they found fault. ³ For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they immerse their hands with the fist, holding the tradition of the elders. ⁴ And coming from the market, they do not eat without immersing, and there are many other things which they have received to hold, the dippings of cups and pots, and of copper vessels, and of tables. ⁵ Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat loaves with unwashed hands?

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

⁸ For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, the dippings of pots and cups. And many other such things you do. ⁹ And He said to them, Do you do well to set aside the commandment of God, so 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, Corban! (that is, A gift to God, whatever you may profit by me) ¹² and you no longer allow him to do anything toward his father or mother, ¹³ making the Word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have delivered. And you do many such things.