² they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were ^(A)defiled, that is, unwashed. ³ (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly,^[a] holding to ^(B)the tradition of ^(C)the elders, ⁴ and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash.^[b] And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as ^(D)the washing of ^(E)cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.^[c]) ⁵ And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to ^(F)the tradition of ^(G)the elders, ^(H)but eat with ^(I)defiled hands?” ⁶ And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you ^(J)hypocrites, as it is written,

⁸ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

⁹ And he said to them, “You have a fine way of ^(M)rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! ¹⁰ For Moses said, ^(N)‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ^(O)‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ ¹¹ But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)^[d]— ¹² then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, ¹³ thus ^(P)making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

^31 (A)And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for ^(B)with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain. ³² And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and ^(C)plays^[a] well on an instrument, for ^(D)they hear what you say, but they will not do it. ^33 (E)When this comes—and come it will!—^(F)then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”

^2 (A)“Why do your disciples break ^(B)the tradition of the elders? ^(C)For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” ³ He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? ⁴ For God commanded, ^(D)‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ^(E)‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ ⁵ But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,”^{[a] 6} he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have ^(F)made void the word^[b] of God. ^7 (G)You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: