Mark 7:1–9

That Which Defiles

7:1–23pp—Mt 15:1–20

7 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled,g that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.h 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.a)i

5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the eldersj instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”

6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

“ ‘These people honor me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me.

7 They worship me in vain;

their teachings are merely human rules.’b k

8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”l

9 And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observec your own traditions!m