Matthew 15:1-9 ▼

1 Then some Pharisees and scribes came from Jerusalem to Jesus. They asked,

2 |Why do your disciples break the traditions of our ancestors? They do not wash their hands before they eat.|

3 He answered them, |Why do you break the commandment of God because of your traditions?

4 For example, God said, 'Honor your father and your mother' and 'Whoever curses father or mother must be put to death.'

5 But you say that whoever tells his father or mother, 'I have given to God whatever support you might have received from me,'

6 does not have to honor his father. Because of your traditions you have destroyed the authority of God's word.

7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:

8 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

9 Their worship of me is pointless, because their teachings are rules made by humans.'|