Defilement Comes from Within

1Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

2Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.   disobey

3But He answered and said to them, Why do you^p also transgress the commandment of God by your^p tradition?

4For God commanded, saying, Honor your father and mother: and, He that curses father or mother, let him die the death.   EX 21:17; EX 20:12

5But you^p say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever you might be profited by me;

6And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have you^p made the commandment of God of none effect by your^p tradition.   no

7You^p hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you^p, saying,   rightly

8This people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me.   ISA 29:13; JER 12:2

9But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.   meaninglessly; as precepts or facts

10And He called the multitude, and said to them, Hear, and understand:

11Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.

12Then came His disciples, and said to Him, Know You that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?   caused to stumble

13But He answered and said, Every plant, which My heavenly Father has not planted, shall be rooted up.   ISA 60:21

14Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

15Then answered Peter and said to Him, Declare to us this parable.   explain; story example

16And Jesus said, Are you^p also yet without understanding?

17Do not you^p yet understand, that whatsoever enters in at the mouth goes into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?   toilet, privy

18But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.   make unclean

19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

20These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashed hands defiles not a man.   does not make unclean