Mark 7:5-16

The Voice

Scribes and Pharisees: ⁵ Why don’t Your disciples follow the traditions passed down to us? Why do they eat their bread with defiled hands?

Jesus: ⁶ Isaiah prophesied wisely about your religious pretensions when he wrote,

⁸ When you cling blindly to your own traditions [such as washing utensils and cups],^[b] you completely miss God’s command. ⁹ Then, indeed, you have perfected setting aside God’s commands for the sake of your tradition. ¹⁰ Moses gave you God’s commandment: “Honor your father and your mother.”^[c] And also, “If you curse your father or your mother, you will be put to death.”^{[d] 11} But you say to your aged parents, “I’ve decided that the support you were expecting from me will now be the holy offering set aside for God.” ¹² After that he is not allowed to do anything for his parents. ¹³ Do you think God wants you to honor your traditions that you have passed down? This is only one of many places where you are blind. ¹⁴ (to the crowd that had gathered) Listen, all of you, to this teaching. I want you to understand. ¹⁵ There is nothing outside someone that can corrupt him. Only the things that come out of a person can corrupt him. [¹⁶ All who have ears to hear, let them listen.]^[e]