Matthew 15:1-9 ▼

1 Then Jesus was approached by Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem, who asked,

2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat.”

3 He answered them, “Why do you break God’s commandment because of your tradition?

4 For God said: Honor your father and your mother; and, Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.

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.’ In this way, you have nullified the word of God because of your tradition.

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

8 This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

9 They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines human commands. ”