Matthew 15:1-9 ▼

1 Then there came to Jesus a party of Pharisees and Scribes from Jerusalem, who inquired,

2 "Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the Elders by not washing their hands before meals?"

3 "Why do you, too," He retorted, "transgress God's commands for the sake of your tradition?

4 For God said, 'Honour thy father and thy mother'; and 'Let him who reviles father or mother be certainly put to death';

5 but you--this is what you say: 'If a man says to his father or mother, That is consecrated, whatever it is, which otherwise you should have received from me--

6 he shall be absolved from honouring his father'; and so you have abrogated God's Word for the sake of your tradition.

7 Hypocrites! well did Isaiah prophesy of you,

8 "'This is a People who honour Me with their lips, while their heart is far away from Me;

9 but it is in vain they worship Me, while they lay down precepts which are mere human rules.'"