Tradition and Commandment

15 (A)Then some Pharisees and scribes *came to Jesus (B)from Jerusalem and said, “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they (C)do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves also break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘(D)Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘(E)The one who speaks evil of father or mother is to [a]be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you has been [b]given to God,” he is not to [c]honor his father or mother.’ And by this you have invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy about you, by saying:

(F)This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far away from Me.
And in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as (G)doctrines the commandments of men.’”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 15:4 Lit die the death
  2. Matthew 15:5 Lit a gift; i.e., an offering
  3. Matthew 15:6 I.e., by supporting them with it

15 Then there come to Jesus from Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. And he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God said, [a]Honor thy father and thy mother: and, [b]He that speaketh evil of father or mother, let him [c]die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is given to God; he shall not honor his father. [d]And ye have made void the [e]word of God because of your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,

[f]This people honoreth me with their lips;
But their heart is far from me.
But in vain do they worship me,
Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 15:4 Ex. 20:12; Dt. 5:16.
  2. Matthew 15:4 Ex. 21:17; Lev. 20:9.
  3. Matthew 15:4 Or, surely die
  4. Matthew 15:6 Some ancient authorities add or his mother.
  5. Matthew 15:6 Some ancient authorities read law.
  6. Matthew 15:8 Isa. 29:13.