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

¹ Then some Scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, ² "Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?"

³ "And why do you also keep transgressing the command of God by your tradition?" he asked. ⁴ "For God said, Honor your father and mother, and, Let him who reviles father or mother be put to death;

⁵ but you say that whoever tells his father or mother, 'Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is dedicated to God,' ⁶ is in no way bound to honor his father. Thus do you make void the word of God by your tradition! ⁷ Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you, saying.

⁸ This is a people that honors me with their lips, But their heart is far from me. ⁹ In vain do they worship me, While they teach doctrines that are the commands of men."

¹ One day the Pharisees came to him in a body with some Scribes who had come from Jerusalem. ² They had noticed that some of his disciples were eating with "common," that is to say, unwashed hands. ³ For the Pharisees and all of the Jews do not eat until they have ceremoniously washed their hands in obedience to the tradition of the elders; ⁴ and when they come from the market-place they do not eat without bathing first. and they have many other customs which they have received and observe, such as the washing of cups and jugs and copper pans. ⁵ So the Pharisees and Scribes asked him. "Why do your disciples not follow the traditions of the elders? Why do they eat with 'common' unwashed hands?"

⁶ "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, hypocrites," he answered. "As it is written, 'This people honor me with their lips, While their hearts are far from me; ⁷ But in vain do they worship me, For their teaching is only human precepts.'"

⁸ "You neglect the commandment of God, and hold fast the traditions of men." ⁹ "It is praiseworthy, is it," he exclaimed, "to reject the command of God that you may keep your tradition! ¹⁰ For although Moses said, Honor your father and mother, and Let him who curses father or mother suffer death,

¹¹ you say that if a man tells his father or mother, 'This money which otherwise you would have received from me, is Korban' (that is, a thing devoted to God), ¹² you exempt him from doing any service for his father or mother. ¹³ Thus by your tradition which you have handed down you set at naught the word of God; and you do many other things like that."