The Tradition of the Elders

15 Then(A) Jesus was approached by Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem, who asked,(B) “Why do your disciples(C) break the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat.”[a](D)

He answered them, “Why do you break God’s commandment because of your tradition? For God said:[b] Honor your father and your mother;[c](E) and, Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.[d](F) But you say, ‘Whoever tells his father or mother, “Whatever benefit you might have received from me is a gift committed to the temple,” he does not have to honor his father.’[e] In this way, you have nullified the word of God[f] because of your tradition. Hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you when he said:

This people[g] honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me.
They worship me in vain,
teaching as doctrines human commands.[h](G)

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Footnotes

  1. 15:2 Lit eat bread = eat a meal
  2. 15:4 Other mss read commanded, saying
  3. 15:4 Ex 20:12; Dt 5:16
  4. 15:4 Ex 21:17; Lv 20:9
  5. 15:6 Other mss read then he does not have to honor his father or mother
  6. 15:6 Other mss read commandment
  7. 15:8 Other mss add draw near to me with their mouths, and
  8. 15:8–9 Is 29:13 LXX

15 Then tote Pharisees Pharisaios and kai scribes grammateus came proserchomai to ho Jesus Iēsous from apo Jerusalem Hierosolyma, saying legō, Why dia tis do · ho your sy disciples mathētēs break parabainō the ho tradition paradosis of the ho elders presbyteros? For gar they do not ou wash niptō · ho their autos hands cheir when hotan they eat esthiō bread artos.” But de he ho answered apokrinomai them autos, saying legō, “ And kai why dia tis do you hymeis break parabainō the ho commandment entolē of ho God theos for dia the sake of · ho your hymeis tradition paradosis? · ho For gar God theos said legō, ‘ Honor timaō your ho father patēr and kai your ho mother mētēr,’ and kai, ‘ Whoever ho speaks kakologeō evil of his father patēr or ē mother mētēr must be put teleutaō to death thanatos.’ But de you hymeis say legō, ‘ Whoever hos an says legō to his ho father patēr or ē his ho mother mētēr, “ Whatever hos benefit you might have received ōpheleō from ek me egō is a gift dōron to God,” he need not ou mē honor timaō · ho his autos father patēr.’ So kai you have nullified akyroō the ho word logos of ho God theos for dia the sake of · ho your hymeis tradition paradosis. You hypocrites hypokritēs! Well kalōs did Isaiah ēsaias prophesy prophēteuō about peri you hymeis, when he said legō: · ho This houtos people laos honors timaō me egō with their ho lips cheilos, · ho but de their autos hearts kardia are apechō far porrō from apo me egō. And de in vain matēn do they worship sebō me egō, teaching didaskō as doctrines didaskalia the commandments entalma of men anthrōpos.’”

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