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The Tradition of the Elders

15 Then(A) Jesus was approached by Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem, who asked,(B) ‘Why do your disciples(C) break the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat.’[a](D)

He answered them, ‘Why do you break God’s commandment because of your tradition? For God said:[b] Honour your father and your mother;[c](E) and, Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.[d](F) But you say, “Whoever tells his father or mother, ‘Whatever benefit you might have received from me is a gift committed to the temple,’ he does not have to honour his father.”[e] In this way, you have nullified the word of God[f] because of your tradition. Hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you when he said:

This people[g] honours me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me.

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Footnotes

  1. 15:2 Lit eat bread = eat a meal
  2. 15:4 Other mss read commanded, saying
  3. 15:4 Ex 20:12; Dt 5:16
  4. 15:4 Ex 21:17; Lv 20:9
  5. 15:6 Other mss read then he does not have to honour his father or mother
  6. 15:6 Other mss read commandment
  7. 15:8 Other mss add draw near to me with their mouths, and