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

Matthew 15:1-9

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

3 But He answered and said unto them, And why do ye transgress the commandment of God for your tradition? 4 For God commanded saying, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, He that revileth father or mother, let him be put to death:

5 but ye say, If any man say to his father or mother, "that which thou mightest be profited by from me is a gift to the temple," 6 and so honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. And thus have ye made void the commandment of God by your tradition. 7 Well did Esaias prophecy concerning you,

8 saying, This people approach me with their mouth, and honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me: 9 but in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the injunctions of men.

Mark 7:1-13

1 And there were gathered unto Him the pharisees, and some of the scribes, from Jerusalem; 2 and when they saw some of his disciples eating with impure (that is, unwashed) hands, they found fault: 3 for the pharisees, and indeed all the Jews, do not eat till they have washed their hands thoroughly, observing the tradition of the ancients. 4 And when they come from the market, they do not eat till they have washed. And there are many other things, which they have received to observe, as the washing of cups, and pots, and brass-vessels, and seats. 5 Then the pharisees and the scribes ask Him, Why do not thy disciples walk according to the tradition of the ancients, but eat without washing their hands?

6 But He answered them, Well did Esaias prophesy concerning you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me: 7 and in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the injunctions of men.

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye retain the tradition of men, as the washings of pots and cups, and many other such like things. 9 And ye expressly annul the commandment of God, that ye may retain your own tradition; 10 for Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, He that revileth father or mother, let him be put to death:

11 but ye say, If a man tell his father or mother, That which thou mightest be profited by from me is Corban, (that is, a gift to the temple) it sufficeth: 12 and so ye allow him to do nothing more for his father or his mother: 13 making void the word of God by your tradition,. And many such like things ye do.