Matthew 15:1-9

1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,
2 "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat."
3 He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
4 For God said, "Honor your father and your mother,' and, "Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.'
5 But you say that whoever tells father or mother, "Whatever support you might have had from me is given to God,' then that person need not honor the father.
6 So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God.
7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said:
8 "This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me;
9 in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.' "

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. Other ancient authorities read [commanded, saying]
  • [b]. Or [is an offering]
  • [c]. Other ancient authorities add [or the mother]
  • [d]. Other ancient authorities read [law]+!; others, [commandment]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.