Matthew 15:1-9

Tradition and Commandment

1 ¹Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus ²from Jerusalem and said,

2 "Why * do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they ³do not wash their hands when they eat bread."

3 And He answered and said to them, "Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?

4 "For God said, '⁴HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER,' and, '⁵HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH.'

5 "But you say, 'Whoever * says to his father or mother, "Whatever * I have that would help you has been given to God,"

6 he is not to honor his father or his mother .' And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

7 "You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you:

8 '⁶THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.

9 'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS ⁷DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.' "

Cross References

• 1. Matthew 15:1-20: {Mark 7:1-23}
• 2. Mark 3:22; Mark 7:1; John 1:19; Acts 25:7
• 3. Luke 11:38
• 4. Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16
• 5. Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9
• 6. Isaiah 29:13
• 7. Colossians 2:22

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "die the death"
• [b] Lit "a gift;" i.e. an offering
• [c] I.e. by supporting them with it