Add parallel Print Page Options

14 I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors.

Read full chapter

If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion.

Read full chapter

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.

Read full chapter

Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers[a] of this world, rather than from Christ.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2:8 Or the spiritual principles; also in 2:20.

though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!

I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.

Read full chapter

“I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene.[a]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 26:9 Or Jesus of Nazareth.

Then Paul said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today.

Read full chapter

In this way, you say they don’t need to honor their parents.[a] And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 15:6 Greek their father; other manuscripts read their father or their mother.

“Why do your disciples disobey our age-old tradition? For they ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat.”

Jesus replied, “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God?

Read full chapter

And if they say to you, ‘But where can we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says:

“‘Those who are destined for death, to death;
    those who are destined for war, to war;
those who are destined for famine, to famine;
    those who are destined for captivity, to captivity.’

Read full chapter

14 Instead, they have stubbornly followed their own desires and worshiped the images of Baal, as their ancestors taught them.

Read full chapter

(The Jews, especially the Pharisees, do not eat until they have poured water over their cupped hands,[a] as required by their ancient traditions. Similarly, they don’t eat anything from the market until they immerse their hands[b] in water. This is but one of many traditions they have clung to—such as their ceremonial washing of cups, pitchers, and kettles.[c])

So the Pharisees and teachers of religious law asked him, “Why don’t your disciples follow our age-old tradition? They eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony.”

Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote,

‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship is a farce,
    for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’[d]

For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.”

Then he said, “You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition. 10 For instance, Moses gave you this law from God: ‘Honor your father and mother,’[e] and ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.’[f] 11 But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’[g] 12 In this way, you let them disregard their needy parents. 13 And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 7:3 Greek have washed with the fist.
  2. 7:4a Some manuscripts read sprinkle themselves.
  3. 7:4b Some manuscripts add and dining couches.
  4. 7:7 Isa 29:13 (Greek version).
  5. 7:10a Exod 20:12; Deut 5:16.
  6. 7:10b Exod 21:17 (Greek version); Lev 20:9 (Greek version).
  7. 7:11 Greek ‘What I would have given to you is Corban’ (that is, a gift).

12 Now I will expose your so-called good deeds.
    None of them will help you.

Read full chapter

13 And so the Lord says,
    “These people say they are mine.
They honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
And their worship of me
    is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.[a]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 29:13 Greek version reads Their worship is a farce, / for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God. Compare Mark 7:7.

Bible Gateway Recommends

NLT Outreach Bible, Large Print Edition
NLT Outreach Bible, Large Print Edition
Retail: $7.99
Our Price: $4.29
Save: $3.70 (46%)
4.0 of 5.0 stars
NLT Premium Gift Bible--soft leather-look, blue
NLT Premium Gift Bible--soft leather-look, blue
Retail: $17.99
Our Price: $14.49
Save: $3.50 (19%)
4.0 of 5.0 stars
NLT Filament Bible--soft leather-look, teal
NLT Filament Bible--soft leather-look, teal
Retail: $79.99
Our Price: $18.49
Save: $61.50 (77%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
NLT Every Man's Bible Explorer Edition, Leatherlike
NLT Every Man's Bible Explorer Edition, Leatherlike
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $39.49
Save: $20.50 (34%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
NLT The Swindoll Study Bible LeatherLike, Black
NLT The Swindoll Study Bible LeatherLike, Black
Retail: $69.99
Our Price: $29.99
Save: $40.00 (57%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars