24 Bible Verses about Traditions

(for the Pharisees, and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands often, do not eat, holding fast the tradition of the elders; and on coming from the marketplace, unless they bathe, they do not eat; and there are many other things which they have received to hold, the dipping of cups, and pitchers, and brazen vessels;)

And when he was twelve years old, and they went up, after the custom of the feast,

Then they took the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the manner of the Jews in preparing for burial.

Now I praise you, brethren, that in all things ye remember me, and hold fast the instructions, as I delivered them to you.

but prove all things; hold fast that which is good;

and the things which thou didst hear from me before many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, such as will be able to teach others also.

For I received of the Lord, what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took a loaf,

and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;

So then, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast the traditions which ye were taught by us, whether by word, or by our letter.

Now we charge you, brethren, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which they received of us.

But he answered and said to them, Why do ye too transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, "Honor thy father and thy mother;" and, "He that curseth father or mother, let him surely die." But ye say, Whoever shall say to his father or his mother, Whatever thou mightst receive in aid from me is a gift [to God],read more.
he shall not honor his father or his mother. Thus have ye made void the law of God for the sake of your tradition.

And he said to them, Full well do ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your tradition! For Moses said, "Honor thy father and thy mother;" and, "He that curseth father or mother, let him surely die." But ye say, If a man say to his father or mother, Whatever thou mightst receive in aid from me is Corban, that is, a gift to God, [he is not bound by the command. Thus]read more.
ye suffer him no longer to do anything for his father or his mother; making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye have handed down; and many such things ye do.

Beware lest there be some one who shall make a prey of you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the rudiments of the world, and not according to Christ.

If ye died with Christ to the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances, such as, Handle not, Taste not, Touch not, (which all are to perish with the using,) after the commandments and teachings of men;

This testimony is true; for which cause rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

And the disciples of John and the Pharisees were fasting; and they come and say to him, Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, and thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said to them, Can the companions of the bridegroom fast, while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then will they fast in that day.read more.
No one seweth a patch of undressed cloth on an old garment; for the new piece teareth away from the old garment, and a worse rent is made. And no one putteth new wine into old skins; for the new wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and the skins.

Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast, and thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said to them, Can the companions of the bridegroom mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then will they fast. No one putteth a patch of undressed cloth on an old garment; for the piece that filleth in teareth away from the garment, and a worse rent is made.read more.
Nor do men put new wine into old skins; else the skins burst, and the wine runneth out, and the skins are spoilt. But they put new wine into new skins, and both are preserved together.

And they said to him, The disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink. But Jesus said to them, Can ye make the companions of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will comeand when the bridegroom is taken from them, then will they fast in those days.read more.
And he spoke also a parable to them: No one taketh a patch from a new garment and putteth it upon an old one; for then both the new garment would be rent, and the patch from the new garment would not match with the old. And no one putteth new wine into old skins; for the new wine would burst the skins, and would itself run out, and the skins would be spoilt. But new wine must be put into new skins. And no one, having drunk old wine, desireth new; for he saith, The old is good.

knowing that not with perishable things, silver or gold, were ye redeemed from your vain manner of life received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot;

Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

then the Pharisees and scribes ask him, Why do not thy disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with defiled hands?

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I withstood him to the face; for he was condemned. For before certain persons came from James, he used to eat with the gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew, and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the other Jews also dissembled with him; so that even Barnabas was carried away with their dissimulation.read more.
But when I saw that they were not walking uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of gentiles, and not that of the Jews, how is it that thou compellest the gentiles to keep the customs of the Jews? We are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the gentiles; but knowing that a man is not accepted as righteous by the works of the Law, but by faith in Christ Jesus, we also have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be accepted as righteous by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be accepted as righteous.

but now, after having known God, or rather having been known by God, how is it that ye are turning back to the weak and beggarly rudiments to which ye wish to be again in bondage? Do ye observe days, and months, and times, and years? I fear for you, lest I may have bestowed upon you labor in vain.