The Traditions of the Elders

7 The k * Pharisees l and some of the * scribes m who had come from Jerusalem n gathered around Him. 2 They observed that some of His disciples were eating their bread with * unclean o—that is, unwashed—hands. 3 (For the Pharisees, in fact all the Jews, will not eat unless they wash their hands ritually, keeping the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, p they do not eat unless they have washed. q And there are many other customs they have received and keep, like the washing of cups, jugs, copper utensils, and dining couches. r s) 5 Then the Pharisees t and the scribes u asked Him, “Why don’t Your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders, v instead of eating bread with ritually unclean w hands?”

6 He answered them, “Isaiah x prophesied y correctly about you hypocrites, z as it is written: a

These people honor b Me with their lips,

but their heart is far from Me.

7 They worship Me in vain,

teaching c as doctrines d the commands e of men. f g

8 Disregarding the command of God, you keep the tradition of men.” h 9 He also said to them, “You completely invalidate God’s command in order to maintain i your tradition! 10 For Moses j said:

Honor your father and your mother; k l and

Whoever speaks evil of father or mother

must be put to death. m n

11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or mother: Whatever benefit o you might have received from me is Corban’ ” (that is, a gift p committed to the temple), 12 “you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. 13 You revoke God’s word q by your tradition that you have handed r down. And you do many other similar things.”