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

¹ Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem came to Jesus. ² They questioned him: Why do your disciples go against the teaching of the fathers? They eat food with unwashed hands.

³ His answer to them was in the form of a question: Why do you go against the word of God in favor of your tradition? ⁴ God said, 'Honor your father and mother.' 'He who says evil of father or mother will be put to death.'

⁵ You teach that a man should tell his father or mother that what he has that could help them, is given to God. ⁶ You say there is no need for him to give honor to his father. You have invalidated the word of God because of your tradition! ⁷ You hypocrites (liars)! Isaiah's prophecy was right about you.

⁸ These people honor me with their lips, but their heart (innermost thoughts) is far from me. ⁹ But their worship is to no purpose, while they give as their teaching the rules (commands) of men.'

¹ The Pharisees and some of the scribes came from Jerusalem to gather around Jesus. ² They saw that some of his disciples ate their bread with unwashed defiled hands. ³ (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat until they wash their hands. They practice the tradition of the elders.) ⁴ When they come from the marketplace they wash themselves before they eat. They follow many other rules. They wash their cups, and brass pots, and other vessels. ⁵ The Pharisees and the scribes asked: Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders. Instead they eat their bread with defiled hands?

⁶ He told them: Isaiah prophesied about you hypocrites. It is written: 'This people honor me with their lips but their heart is far from me. ⁷ They worship me in vain teaching as doctrines the commands of men.'

⁸ Speaking to the Pharisees and scribes He said: You abandon the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men. ⁹ You totally reject the commandment of God that you may keep your tradition. ¹⁰ Moses said: 'Honor your father and your mother. He also said: 'He that speaks evil of father or mother must die.'

¹¹ But you say: 'If a man says to his father or his mother that which would benefit you is a gift to God, ¹² he no longer has to do anything for his father or mother.' ¹³ You make the word of God invalid by your tradition.