Matthew 15:1-14 ▼

1 Then there come to Jesus, from Jerusalem, Pharisees and scribes, saying,

2 "Why do Thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they do not wash their hands, when they eat bread!"

3 And He, answering, said to them, "Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?

4 For God said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and 'He that speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die,'

5 But ye say, 'Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, That by which you might be profited by me is an offering,'

6 shall in no wise honor his father; and ye made void the word of God because of your tradition.

7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,

8 'This people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.

9 But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"

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

11 Not that which enters into the mouth defiles the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth—this defiles the man."

12 Then, His disciples, coming near, say to Him, "Knowest Thou that the Pharisees, having heard the saying, were made to stumble?"

13 But He, answering, said, "Every plant which My Heavenly Father did not plant shall be rooted up.

14 Let them alone; they are blind guides; and if a blind man be guiding a blind man, both will fall into a pit."