²² But be ^(A)doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. ²⁴ For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. ²⁵ But the one who looks into the perfect law, ^(B)the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, ^(C)he will be blessed in his doing.

²⁶ If anyone thinks he is religious ^(D)and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's ^(E)religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: ^(F)to visit ^(G)orphans and widows in their affliction, and ^(H)to keep oneself ^(I)unstained from the world.

Traditions and Commandments

7 ^(A)Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes ^(B)who had come from Jerusalem, ² they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were ^(C)defiled, that is, unwashed. ³ (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly,^[a] holding to ^(D)the tradition of ^(E)the elders,

⁵ And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to ^(A)the tradition of ^(B)the elders, ^(C)but eat with ^(D)defiled hands?” ⁶ And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you ^(E)hypocrites, as it is written,

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

What Defiles a Person

¹⁴ And he called the people to him again and said to them, ^(A)“Hear me, all of you, and understand: ^15 (B)There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”^[a]