Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible





When the Pharisees saw it, they kept saying to his disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with the tax-gatherers and sinners?" Verse ConceptsFaultsComplaintsStatusTax CollectorsPharisees Concerned About ChristFinding Fault With Jesustaxespharisees

But the Pharisees, when they perceived it, said to him. "Look! Your disciples are doing what it is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!" Verse ConceptsComplaintsRitualThe Disciples ActionsPharisees Concerned About ChristThe Sabbath And ChristThe SabbathJesus Healing On Sabbathpharisees

"Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?" Verse ConceptsFaultsComplaintsLaw, Jesus Christ's Attitude ToTraditionsPeople UnwashedBreaking Man's LawHow People EatFinding Fault With Jesuselders

But when some scribes of the Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax-gatherers, they said to his disciples, "Is he eating and drinking with tax-gatherers and sinners?" Verse ConceptsFaultsConfrontationComplaintsStatusTax CollectorsOpposition To Christ From ScribesPharisees Concerned About ChristWhy Does Jesus Do This?Finding Fault With Jesus

They had noticed that some of his disciples were eating with "common," that is to say, unwashed hands. Verse ConceptsDefilement, Objects OfBathing, For CleansingPurity, Nature OfThe Disciples ActionsPeople UnwashedHow People EatLack Of Holiness

When they all saw it, they began to complain, saying "He has gone in to lodge with a man who is a sinner." Verse ConceptsGuestsLonelinessHospitality Towards ChristWelcoming ChristGrumbling At PeopleReceiving Jesus As A GuestComplaintsComplaining

Then the Jews began to find fault with Jesus, because he said, "I am the bread which comes down out of heaven," and they kept asking. Verse ConceptsChrist, Names ForChrist Going DownChrist And HeavenGrumbling At PeopleJesus As Food

"Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?" Verse ConceptsFaultsComplaintsLaw, Jesus Christ's Attitude ToTraditionsPeople UnwashedBreaking Man's LawHow People EatFinding Fault With Jesuselders


"Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?" Verse ConceptsFaultsComplaintsLaw, Jesus Christ's Attitude ToTraditionsPeople UnwashedBreaking Man's LawHow People EatFinding Fault With Jesuselders

Then some Scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?" "And why do you also keep transgressing the command of God by your tradition?" he asked. read more.
"For God said, Honor your father and mother, and, Let him who reviles father or mother be put to death; but you say that whoever tells his father or mother, 'Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is dedicated to God,' is in no way bound to honor his father. Thus do you make void the word of God by your tradition! Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you, saying. This is a people that honors me with their lips, But their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me, While they teach doctrines that are the commands of men." Then Jesus called the people to him and said: "Listen, and pay attention. It is not what goes into a man's mouth that defiles him, but what comes out of it, that defiles the man." Then his disciples came to him and said, "Do you know that the Pharisees were scandalized when they heard that saying?" He replied. "Any plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. "Let them alone. They are blind men leading the blind; and if one blind man leads another, both of them will fall into a ditch." Then Peter said to Jesus, "Explain the parable to us." He answered. "Are even you still without understanding? "Do you not know how all that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is afterward evacuated; while what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart??nd that is what defiles a man. For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, perjury, slander. These are the things that defile a man; to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

They had noticed that some of his disciples were eating with "common," that is to say, unwashed hands. 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; 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. read more.
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?" "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; But in vain do they worship me, For their teaching is only human precepts.'" "You neglect the commandment of God, and hold fast the traditions of men." "It is praiseworthy, is it," he exclaimed, "to reject the command of God that you may keep your tradition! For although Moses said, Honor your father and mother, and Let him who curses father or mother suffer death, 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), you exempt him from doing any service for his father or mother. 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." Then again he called the crowd to him and said: "Listen to me, all of you, and understand; there is nothing outside a man which by entering in can defile him; but it is what comes from him that defiled him." OMITTED TEXT. After he had left the crowd and gone indoors his disciples began asking him about the parable. "Are even you without understanding?" he said. "Do you not perceive that nothing whatever from without can defile a man by entering him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his belly, and passes away, ejected from him?" By these words he pronounced all foods clean. "What comes out of a man," he continued, "is what defiles him. From within, from the heart of man, proceed evil purposes??22 fornication, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, wantonness, envy, slander, arrogance, reckless folly??23 all these wicked things issue from within and defile a man."

Then all his disciples forsook him and fled; but those who had apprehended Jesus led him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled. Verse ConceptsArrestingOld Age, Attitudes ToAssembling LeadersRivers

"Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?" Verse ConceptsFaultsComplaintsLaw, Jesus Christ's Attitude ToTraditionsPeople UnwashedBreaking Man's LawHow People EatFinding Fault With Jesuselders

When he had entered the Temple courts, and was teaching, the high priests and elders of the people came to him and asked him, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" Verse ConceptsChief priestsLeaders, SpiritualEntering The TempleChrist TeachingChrist In The TempleGod Appointing His SonResolving Conflict

As soon as it was down, after the high priests had conferred with the elders and the whole Sanhedrin, they bound Jesus, and took him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Verse Conceptsenemies, of Jesus Christelders, as community leadersBad Decision Making ExamplesRopesTeachers Of The LawCommitteesHanding Over ChristOpposition To Christ From ScribesThe Chief Priests ConvenedTying Up

"To this the high priest and all the council of elders are witnesses. It was from them that I received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was already on my way to bring those also who were there back to Jerusalem, in bonds, for punishment. Verse ConceptsLettersSanhedrin

"Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?" Verse ConceptsFaultsComplaintsLaw, Jesus Christ's Attitude ToTraditionsPeople UnwashedBreaking Man's LawHow People EatFinding Fault With Jesuselders

Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you, saying. This is a people that honors me with their lips, But their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me, While they teach doctrines that are the commands of men."

One day the Pharisees came to him in a body with some Scribes who had come from Jerusalem. They had noticed that some of his disciples were eating with "common," that is to say, unwashed hands. 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;

"Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?" Verse ConceptsFaultsComplaintsLaw, Jesus Christ's Attitude ToTraditionsPeople UnwashedBreaking Man's LawHow People EatFinding Fault With Jesuselders

They had noticed that some of his disciples were eating with "common," that is to say, unwashed hands. 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; 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. read more.
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?"

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; Verse ConceptsAblutionelders, as community leadersJews, TheCharacteristics Of PhariseesHow People EatThe Elderlypharisees

"Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?" Verse ConceptsFaultsComplaintsLaw, Jesus Christ's Attitude ToTraditionsPeople UnwashedBreaking Man's LawHow People EatFinding Fault With Jesuselders

Then some Scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?" "And why do you also keep transgressing the command of God by your tradition?" he asked.

Then some Scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?" "And why do you also keep transgressing the command of God by your tradition?" he asked. read more.
"For God said, Honor your father and mother, and, Let him who reviles father or mother be put to death; but you say that whoever tells his father or mother, 'Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is dedicated to God,' is in no way bound to honor his father. Thus do you make void the word of God by your tradition! Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you, saying. This is a people that honors me with their lips, But their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me, While they teach doctrines that are the commands of men." Then Jesus called the people to him and said: "Listen, and pay attention. It is not what goes into a man's mouth that defiles him, but what comes out of it, that defiles the man." Then his disciples came to him and said, "Do you know that the Pharisees were scandalized when they heard that saying?" He replied. "Any plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. "Let them alone. They are blind men leading the blind; and if one blind man leads another, both of them will fall into a ditch." Then Peter said to Jesus, "Explain the parable to us." He answered. "Are even you still without understanding? "Do you not know how all that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is afterward evacuated; while what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart??nd that is what defiles a man. For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, perjury, slander. These are the things that defile a man; to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

One day the Pharisees came to him in a body with some Scribes who had come from Jerusalem. They had noticed that some of his disciples were eating with "common," that is to say, unwashed hands. 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; read more.
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. 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?" "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; But in vain do they worship me, For their teaching is only human precepts.'" "You neglect the commandment of God, and hold fast the traditions of men." "It is praiseworthy, is it," he exclaimed, "to reject the command of God that you may keep your tradition! For although Moses said, Honor your father and mother, and Let him who curses father or mother suffer death, 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), you exempt him from doing any service for his father or mother. 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." Then again he called the crowd to him and said: "Listen to me, all of you, and understand; there is nothing outside a man which by entering in can defile him; but it is what comes from him that defiled him." OMITTED TEXT. After he had left the crowd and gone indoors his disciples began asking him about the parable. "Are even you without understanding?" he said. "Do you not perceive that nothing whatever from without can defile a man by entering him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his belly, and passes away, ejected from him?" By these words he pronounced all foods clean. "What comes out of a man," he continued, "is what defiles him. From within, from the heart of man, proceed evil purposes??22 fornication, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, wantonness, envy, slander, arrogance, reckless folly??23 all these wicked things issue from within and defile a man."

Then all his disciples forsook him and fled; but those who had apprehended Jesus led him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled. Verse ConceptsArrestingOld Age, Attitudes ToAssembling LeadersRivers

"Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?" Verse ConceptsFaultsComplaintsLaw, Jesus Christ's Attitude ToTraditionsPeople UnwashedBreaking Man's LawHow People EatFinding Fault With Jesuselders

When he had entered the Temple courts, and was teaching, the high priests and elders of the people came to him and asked him, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" Verse ConceptsChief priestsLeaders, SpiritualEntering The TempleChrist TeachingChrist In The TempleGod Appointing His SonResolving Conflict

As soon as it was down, after the high priests had conferred with the elders and the whole Sanhedrin, they bound Jesus, and took him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Verse Conceptsenemies, of Jesus Christelders, as community leadersBad Decision Making ExamplesRopesTeachers Of The LawCommitteesHanding Over ChristOpposition To Christ From ScribesThe Chief Priests ConvenedTying Up

"To this the high priest and all the council of elders are witnesses. It was from them that I received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was already on my way to bring those also who were there back to Jerusalem, in bonds, for punishment. Verse ConceptsLettersSanhedrin

Then all his disciples forsook him and fled; but those who had apprehended Jesus led him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled. Verse ConceptsArrestingOld Age, Attitudes ToAssembling LeadersRivers

"Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?" Verse ConceptsFaultsComplaintsLaw, Jesus Christ's Attitude ToTraditionsPeople UnwashedBreaking Man's LawHow People EatFinding Fault With Jesuselders

When he had entered the Temple courts, and was teaching, the high priests and elders of the people came to him and asked him, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" Verse ConceptsChief priestsLeaders, SpiritualEntering The TempleChrist TeachingChrist In The TempleGod Appointing His SonResolving Conflict

As soon as it was down, after the high priests had conferred with the elders and the whole Sanhedrin, they bound Jesus, and took him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Verse Conceptsenemies, of Jesus Christelders, as community leadersBad Decision Making ExamplesRopesTeachers Of The LawCommitteesHanding Over ChristOpposition To Christ From ScribesThe Chief Priests ConvenedTying Up

"To this the high priest and all the council of elders are witnesses. It was from them that I received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was already on my way to bring those also who were there back to Jerusalem, in bonds, for punishment. Verse ConceptsLettersSanhedrin

Meanwhile when myriads of the multitudes were thronging around him so that they trod one upon another, he began to say to his disciples, first of all. "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisee, which is hypocrisy. Verse ConceptsCrowdsAn Innumerable Numberevil, warnings againstPharisees, Attitudes To Jesus ChristPopularityPretenceWarningPopularity Of ChristDealing With Many PeopleTrampling PeopleLeavenedBeginning To TeachDisadvantages Of CrowdsCharacteristics Of PhariseesChrist Speaking To DisciplesShowing HypocrisyHypocrisy

"When you fast, do not look downcast like the hypocrites; for they disfigure their faces so that it may be apparent to men that they are fasting. In solemn truth I tell you, they already have received their reward. "But when one of you fasts, let him anoint his head and wash his face, "so that he may not appear to men to be fasting, but to his Father who is in secret; and his Father who sees in secret will reward him.

"Listen to another parable: "A man who was a householder planted a vineyard, fenced it about, dug a wine vat in it, built a tower, then rented it to vine-dressers and went abroad. When the time of fruit drew near, he sent his slaves to the vine-dressers to get his fruit. And the vine-dressers seized his slaves, flogged one, killed another, and stoned a third. read more.
Again he sent other slaves, a larger number than at first, and they treated them in the same way. And last he sent his son to them; 'Surely they will respect my son,' he said. But when the vine-dressers saw his son, they said to themselves: "'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance.' "So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-dressers?" "He will utterly destroy those wretches," they answered, "and will entrust his vineyard to other vine-dressers, who will pay back the fruits to him in their season." "Have you never read in the Scriptures," Jesus answered, "how The stone that the builders rejected Has been made the corner-stone; This is the Lord's doing, It is wonderful in our eyes? "I tell you that for this reason the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation that does produce the fruit of it. "He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but he upon whom it falls will be scattered as dust." As they listened to his parables, the chief priests and the Pharisees recognized that he was speaking about them; but although they longed to apprehend him, they were afraid of the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.

"And whatever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets, in order that men may praise them. In solemn truth I tell you they already have their reward in full. "But when you give alms, do not let your right hand know what your left is doing, "so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. read more.
"And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the corners of the avenues, in order that men may see them. In solemn truth I tell you that they have their reward in full. "But you, when you pray, go into your own room and shut your door; pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "While praying do not say the same words over and over again, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that by their much speaking they will gain attention. "Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Then some Scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?" "And why do you also keep transgressing the command of God by your tradition?" he asked. read more.
"For God said, Honor your father and mother, and, Let him who reviles father or mother be put to death; but you say that whoever tells his father or mother, 'Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is dedicated to God,' is in no way bound to honor his father. Thus do you make void the word of God by your tradition! Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you, saying. This is a people that honors me with their lips, But their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me, While they teach doctrines that are the commands of men."

Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came to him, and in order to test him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven. In answer he said: "In the evening you say, 'It will be fine weather, for the sky is red as fire'; and at dawn you say, 'It will storm today, for the sky is red and lowering.' You know how to discern the look of the sky, but the signs of the times you cannot read. read more.
A wicked and faithless generation is seeking a sign, but no sign shall be given it but the sign of Jonah." So he left them and went away. When his disciples reached the other side of the lake, they had forgotten to bring bread. Presently Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees." And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, "It is because we did not bring any bread." When Jesus knew it he said: "Weaklings in faith! Why are you arguing among yourselves, because you have no bread? "Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many large basketfuls you took up? "Nor the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many large basketfuls you took up? "How is it that you do not perceive that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware off the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees!" Then they realized that he had not told them to beware of the leaven, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

"The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat; "therefore do and observe whatever they bid you; but do not do as they do, for they preach, but do not practise. "For they bind heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves will not lift a finger to move them. read more.
"For they do all their good deeds to be gazed on of men. They widen their phylacteries, "and lengthen the tassels, and are fond of the best places at banquets, and the front seats in the synagogues. "They enjoy salutations in the market-places, and to have men call them 'Rabbi.' "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi'; for one is your Teacher, and you are all brothers; "and call no one 'Father' on earth, for One is your Father in heaven. "And call no one 'Leader,' because One is your leader, even the Christ. "Whoever is great among you shall be your minister; "whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted. "But woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces; for you do not enter, yourselves, nor do you permit those who are about to come in, to enter. OMITTED TEXT. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you scour sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is gained, you make him twofold more a son of hell than you are, yourselves. "Woe unto you, blind guides, who say, If any one swears by the Sanctuary, it is nothing, but if any one swears by the gold of the Sanctuary, the oath is binding. "You fools and blind; for which is greater, the gold, or the Sanctuary which hallows the gold? "You say, too, that whoever swears by the offering that is upon it, his oath is binding. "You blind! Which is greater, the offering or the altar which hallows the offering? "He then, who swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; "and he who swears by the Sanctuary swears by it and by Him who dwells therein; "and he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits thereon. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and anise and cummin, and neglect the weightier matters of the Law??ustice and mercy and good faith; these latter you ought to have done, and not to have left the former undone. "You blind guides! who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but within they are filled with extortion and excess. "You blind Pharisees, first clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside of it may be clean also. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like white-washed sepulchers. They look beautiful without, but within they are filled with dead men's bones and all rottenness. "Just so you also outwardly appear to men, just, but within you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You rebuild the tombs of the prophets, and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, "'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been their comrades in the murder of the prophets.' "So you bear witness against yourselves, that you are the descendants of those who slew the prophets! "Fill up then the measure of your fathers! "You serpents! You vipers brood! How shall you escape the judgment of hell?

Once he was casting out a dumb demon, and when the demon was gone out, the dumb man spoke, and the people wondered. But some of them said, "It is by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that he cast out demons." Others, tempting him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. read more.
He knew their intentions and said to them. "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste and house falls upon house. "And if Satan also is divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? "Do you say that I am casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub? If I then am casting out demons by Beelzebub, by whom are your sons casting them out? They therefore shall be your judges. "But if it is by the finger of God that I am casting out demons, then the kingdom of God is come upon you. "When the strong man fully aroused keeps guard over his homestead, his property is undisturbed; "but when the stronger man attacks him, he takes away from the strong armor in which he was trusting and divides up the spoil. "He who is not for me is against me, and he who is not gathering with me is scattering. "Whenever a foul spirit is gone out of a man, it roams through waterless places, in search of rest; but when it can find none, it says, 'I will go back to the house which I have left.' When it comes and finds the house completely swept and garnished. "Then it goes off and fetches seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the last state of that man is worse than the first." It happened while he was saying this, that a certain woman out of the crowd shouted to him, saying, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breast that you have sucked." "No, rather," he answered, "blessed are those who listen to the word of God, and keep it." When the crowd were beginning to throng about him he proceeded to say. "This is an evil generation! It seeks a sign, and there shall be no sign be given to it except the sign of Jonah; "for as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so shall the Son of man be to this generation. "The queen of the South shall rise up in Judgment with the men of this generation, and shall condemn them; because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and lo, one greater than Solomon is here! "The men of the Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with his generation and shall condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and lo! one greater than Jonah is here! "When one lights a lamp he does not put it in a cellar nor under the bushel, but on a lamp-stand that those who enter may see the light. "The lamp of the body is your eye; when your eye is single then your whole body is full of light; but when it is evil your whole body is full of darkness. "Look carefully! Perhaps that very light of yours is darkness. "If, however, your whole body is full of light, without having any part dark, it will be wholly radiant with light, as when the lamp illumines you with its bright rays." When he had finished speaking a Pharisee asked him to dine with him; so he went in with him and reclined. And the Pharisee noticed, to his amazement, that he did not wash his hands before eating, but the Lord said to him. "You Pharisee do cleanse the outside of your cup or plate, but your secret heart is full of extortion and wickedness. "Foolish men! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? "Better cleanse what is within, and nothing will be unclean for you. "But woe unto you Pharisee! for you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and disregard justice and the love of God; but these you ought to have done, and not leave the other undone. "Woe unto you Pharisee! for you delight in the best seats in the synagogue, and in the salutation in the market-places. "Woe unto you! for you are like the tombs which are hidden, and men walk over them unsuspecting." Hereupon one of the lawyers exclaimed, "But teacher, in saying such things you are also reproaching us also." "Woe unto you lawyers also!" said Jesus, "for you load men with irksome burdens, and you yourselves will not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. "Woe to you! for you are building the tombs of the prophets whom you ancestors killed. "So you are witnesses, and you consent to the actions of your ancestors. for they killed them, and you build their tombs. "For this reason also said the Wisdom of God. 'I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and some they will persecute; "so that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required from this generation, "from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the alter and the sanctuary; yes; I tell you, it shall be required of this generation! "Woe to you lawyers, for you have taken away the key of knowledge!' You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who are trying to enter." After he had gone away, the Scribes and the Pharisee began to set themselves vehemently against him, and to cross-question him upon many points, laying in wait for him, in order to catch a word from his lips.

Now all the tax-gatherers and sinners continued to draw near him, and to listen to him. And the Pharisees and Scribes began to complain, saying, "He is welcoming sinners and eating with them!" And he told them a parable. read more.
"Which one of you men, if he has a hundred sheep, and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? "And after he has found it, he lays it on his shoulder, rejoicing. "When he gets home he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' "I say to you that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons who need no repentance. "Or, again, suppose a woman has ten coins. If she loses one, does she not light a lamp and sweep the house, and search anxiously until she finds it? "And when she has found it, she calls together her woman friends and neighbors and say, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.'

Then some Scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?" "And why do you also keep transgressing the command of God by your tradition?" he asked.

One day the Pharisees came to him in a body with some Scribes who had come from Jerusalem. They had noticed that some of his disciples were eating with "common," that is to say, unwashed hands. 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; read more.
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. 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?" "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; But in vain do they worship me, For their teaching is only human precepts.'" "You neglect the commandment of God, and hold fast the traditions of men." "It is praiseworthy, is it," he exclaimed, "to reject the command of God that you may keep your tradition! For although Moses said, Honor your father and mother, and Let him who curses father or mother suffer death, 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), you exempt him from doing any service for his father or mother. 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." Then again he called the crowd to him and said: "Listen to me, all of you, and understand; there is nothing outside a man which by entering in can defile him; but it is what comes from him that defiled him."

"Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?" Verse ConceptsFaultsComplaintsLaw, Jesus Christ's Attitude ToTraditionsPeople UnwashedBreaking Man's LawHow People EatFinding Fault With Jesuselders

They had noticed that some of his disciples were eating with "common," that is to say, unwashed hands. 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; 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. read more.
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?"

"You neglect the commandment of God, and hold fast the traditions of men." "It is praiseworthy, is it," he exclaimed, "to reject the command of God that you may keep your tradition!

And the Pharisee noticed, to his amazement, that he did not wash his hands before eating, Verse ConceptsJudaismMarvellingCharacteristics Of PhariseesAblutionsurprisesJesus Eating

"Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?" Verse ConceptsFaultsComplaintsLaw, Jesus Christ's Attitude ToTraditionsPeople UnwashedBreaking Man's LawHow People EatFinding Fault With Jesuselders

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; 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.

Then all his disciples forsook him and fled; but those who had apprehended Jesus led him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled. Verse ConceptsArrestingOld Age, Attitudes ToAssembling LeadersRivers

"Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?" Verse ConceptsFaultsComplaintsLaw, Jesus Christ's Attitude ToTraditionsPeople UnwashedBreaking Man's LawHow People EatFinding Fault With Jesuselders

When he had entered the Temple courts, and was teaching, the high priests and elders of the people came to him and asked him, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" Verse ConceptsChief priestsLeaders, SpiritualEntering The TempleChrist TeachingChrist In The TempleGod Appointing His SonResolving Conflict

As soon as it was down, after the high priests had conferred with the elders and the whole Sanhedrin, they bound Jesus, and took him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Verse Conceptsenemies, of Jesus Christelders, as community leadersBad Decision Making ExamplesRopesTeachers Of The LawCommitteesHanding Over ChristOpposition To Christ From ScribesThe Chief Priests ConvenedTying Up

"To this the high priest and all the council of elders are witnesses. It was from them that I received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was already on my way to bring those also who were there back to Jerusalem, in bonds, for punishment. Verse ConceptsLettersSanhedrin



"So whoever breaks one of these least commandments, and teaches others to break them, will be least in the kingdom of heaven. But he who keeps them and teaches them, he will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Verse ConceptsFalse TeachingsCommands, in NTKingdom Of God, Characteristics OfTeachingInferiorityMisteachingGreatness Of DisciplesTeaching The Way Of GodUnimportant ThingsBreaking The Ten Commandmentsrelaxingrelaxation

"The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat; "therefore do and observe whatever they bid you; but do not do as they do, for they preach, but do not practise. "For they bind heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves will not lift a finger to move them. read more.
"For they do all their good deeds to be gazed on of men. They widen their phylacteries, "and lengthen the tassels, and are fond of the best places at banquets, and the front seats in the synagogues. "They enjoy salutations in the market-places, and to have men call them 'Rabbi.' "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi'; for one is your Teacher, and you are all brothers; "and call no one 'Father' on earth, for One is your Father in heaven. "And call no one 'Leader,' because One is your leader, even the Christ. "Whoever is great among you shall be your minister; "whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted. "But woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces; for you do not enter, yourselves, nor do you permit those who are about to come in, to enter. OMITTED TEXT. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you scour sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is gained, you make him twofold more a son of hell than you are, yourselves. "Woe unto you, blind guides, who say, If any one swears by the Sanctuary, it is nothing, but if any one swears by the gold of the Sanctuary, the oath is binding. "You fools and blind; for which is greater, the gold, or the Sanctuary which hallows the gold? "You say, too, that whoever swears by the offering that is upon it, his oath is binding. "You blind! Which is greater, the offering or the altar which hallows the offering? "He then, who swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; "and he who swears by the Sanctuary swears by it and by Him who dwells therein; "and he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits thereon. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and anise and cummin, and neglect the weightier matters of the Law??ustice and mercy and good faith; these latter you ought to have done, and not to have left the former undone. "You blind guides! who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but within they are filled with extortion and excess. "You blind Pharisees, first clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside of it may be clean also. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like white-washed sepulchers. They look beautiful without, but within they are filled with dead men's bones and all rottenness. "Just so you also outwardly appear to men, just, but within you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You rebuild the tombs of the prophets, and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, "'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been their comrades in the murder of the prophets.' "So you bear witness against yourselves, that you are the descendants of those who slew the prophets! "Fill up then the measure of your fathers! "You serpents! You vipers brood! How shall you escape the judgment of hell?

"Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?" "And why do you also keep transgressing the command of God by your tradition?" he asked. "For God said, Honor your father and mother, and, Let him who reviles father or mother be put to death; read more.
but you say that whoever tells his father or mother, 'Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is dedicated to God,' is in no way bound to honor his father. Thus do you make void the word of God by your tradition! Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you, saying. This is a people that honors me with their lips, But their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me, While they teach doctrines that are the commands of men." Then Jesus called the people to him and said: "Listen, and pay attention. It is not what goes into a man's mouth that defiles him, but what comes out of it, that defiles the man." Then his disciples came to him and said, "Do you know that the Pharisees were scandalized when they heard that saying?" He replied. "Any plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. "Let them alone. They are blind men leading the blind; and if one blind man leads another, both of them will fall into a ditch." Then Peter said to Jesus, "Explain the parable to us." He answered. "Are even you still without understanding? "Do you not know how all that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is afterward evacuated; while what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart??nd that is what defiles a man. For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, perjury, slander. These are the things that defile a man; to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

And the Pharisee noticed, to his amazement, that he did not wash his hands before eating, but the Lord said to him. "You Pharisee do cleanse the outside of your cup or plate, but your secret heart is full of extortion and wickedness. "Foolish men! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? read more.
"Better cleanse what is within, and nothing will be unclean for you. "But woe unto you Pharisee! for you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and disregard justice and the love of God; but these you ought to have done, and not leave the other undone. "Woe unto you Pharisee! for you delight in the best seats in the synagogue, and in the salutation in the market-places. "Woe unto you! for you are like the tombs which are hidden, and men walk over them unsuspecting." Hereupon one of the lawyers exclaimed, "But teacher, in saying such things you are also reproaching us also." "Woe unto you lawyers also!" said Jesus, "for you load men with irksome burdens, and you yourselves will not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. "Woe to you! for you are building the tombs of the prophets whom you ancestors killed. "So you are witnesses, and you consent to the actions of your ancestors. for they killed them, and you build their tombs. "For this reason also said the Wisdom of God. 'I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and some they will persecute; "so that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required from this generation, "from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the alter and the sanctuary; yes; I tell you, it shall be required of this generation! "Woe to you lawyers, for you have taken away the key of knowledge!' You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who are trying to enter."


For you well know that not with perishable things, with silver or gold, were you redeemed from the emptiness of your manner of life, received by tradition from your ancestors; Verse ConceptsFutilityemptinessGoldMarketsRiches, Nature OfRiches, Description OfPossessions DecayingTransient WealthUseless EndeavourPeople Are CorruptibleMoney's Deficienciesfearlessliberationredeemed

At that time Jesus walked through the wheat fields one Sabbath Day; and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck some ears of wheat and to eat them. But the Pharisees, when they perceived it, said to him. "Look! Your disciples are doing what it is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!" "Have you not read," answered Jesus, "what David did when he was hungry, and his men, too? read more.
"How he went into the House of God, and there they ate the loaves of the Presence, which neither he nor his men were permitted to eat, but the priests only? "Have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the Temple break the Sabbath and are guiltless? "But I tell you that One is here who is greater than the temple. "And if you knew what this means, "It is mercy I desire, not sacrifice, "you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath."

"Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?" "And why do you also keep transgressing the command of God by your tradition?" he asked. "For God said, Honor your father and mother, and, Let him who reviles father or mother be put to death; read more.
but you say that whoever tells his father or mother, 'Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is dedicated to God,' is in no way bound to honor his father. Thus do you make void the word of God by your tradition!

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; 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. 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?" read more.
"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; But in vain do they worship me, For their teaching is only human precepts.'" "You neglect the commandment of God, and hold fast the traditions of men." "It is praiseworthy, is it," he exclaimed, "to reject the command of God that you may keep your tradition!

It happened that on a Sabbath he was going through the wheat-fields. His disciples were picking the ears and eating the wheat, rubbing it out with their hands. And some of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what it is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?" "Have you never read," answered Jesus, "what David did when he and his followers were hungry? read more.
"How he entered into God's house and took and ate the Presented Loaves, and gave some to his followers, loaves which none must eat but the priests? "THE SON OF MAN," he told them, "IS LORD EVEN OVER THE SABBATH." On another Sabbath he went into a synagogue and was teaching; and there was there a man whose right hand was withered. Now the Scribes and Pharisees kept watching to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might be able to bring on accusations to him. He was all along aware of their thoughts; and he said to the man with the withered hand, "Rise, and stand there in the midst." So he rose and stood. Then Jesus said to them. "I ask you whether it is lawful on the Sabbath Day to do good or to do harm? To save a life or to destroy it?" Then he looked round about on them in anger, and said to him, "Stretch out your hand!" He did so; and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury, and they began to talk over together what they could do to Jesus.