Followers of Tradition

1 aThe Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come bfrom Jerusalem,

2 and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with aimpure hands, that is, unwashed.

3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they 1carefully wash their hands, thus observing the atraditions of the elders;

4 and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they 1cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the 2washing of acups and pitchers and copper pots.)

5 The Pharisees and the scribes * asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the atradition of the elders, but eat their bread with bimpure hands?”

6 And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘aThis people honors Me with their lips,

But their heart is far away from Me.

7 ‘aBut in vain do they worship Me,

Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’

8 “Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the atradition of men.”