Matthew 15:1-9

The Tradition of the Elders

1 Then Pharisees and scribes came from Jerusalem to Jesus and asked,

2 "Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they don't wash their hands when they eat!"^[a]

3 He answered them, "And why do you break God's commandment because of your tradition?

4 For God said: ^[b] Honor your father and your mother; ^[c] and, The one who speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death. ^[d]

5 But you say, 'Whoever tells his father or mother, "Whatever benefit you might have received from me is a gift [committed to the temple]"-

6 he does not have to honor his father.' ^[e] In this way, you have revoked God's word ^[f] because of your tradition.

7 Hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you when he said:

8 These people ^[g] honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.

9 They worship Me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commands of men. " ^[h]

Footnotes

• [a] Lit eat bread eat a meal
• [b] Other mss read commanded, saying
• [c] Ex 20:12; Dt 5:16
• [d] Ex 21:17; Lv 20:9
• [e] Other mss read then he does not have to honor his father or mother
• [f] Other mss read commandment
• [g] Other mss add draws near to Me with their mouths, and
• [h] Isaiah 29:13 LXX