THE TRADITIONS OF THE ELDERS

7 Then Phariseeso and some of the scribesp who had come from Jerusalemq gathered around him. 2 They observed that some of his disciples were eating bread with uncleanr—that is, unwashed—hands. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, keeping the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace,s they do not eat unless they have washed.t And there are many other customs they have received and keep, like the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and dining couches.c,u) 5 So the Phariseesv and the scribesw asked him, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders,x instead of eating bread with ceremonially uncleanD hands?”

6 He answered them, “Isaiahy prophesiedz correctly about you hypocrites,aa as it is written:ab

This people honorsac me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me.

7 They worship me in vain,

teachingad as doctrinesae human commands.E,af

8 Abandoning the command of God, you hold on to human tradition.”F 9 He also said to them, “You have a fine way of invalidating God’s command in order to set upG your tradition!