THE TRADITION OF THE ELDERS

15 Thenv Jesus was approached by Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem, who asked,w 2 “Why do your disciplesx break the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat.”A,a

3 He answered them, “Why do you break God’s commandment because of your tradition? 4 For God said:B Honor your father and your mother;C,b and, Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.D,c 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.’E In this way, you have nullified the word of GodF because of your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you when he said:

8 This peopleG honors me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me.

9 They worship me in vain,

teaching as doctrines human commands.”* d