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

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