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15 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying, “Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat bread.”

He answered them, “Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16 and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9 But you say, ‘Whoever may tell his father or his mother, “Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God,” he shall not honor his father or mother.’ You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,

‘These people draw near to me with their mouth,
    and honor me with their lips;
    but their heart is far from me.
And in vain do they worship me,
    teaching as doctrine rules made by men.’”Isaiah 29:13

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The Tradition of the Elders(A)

15 Then scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, “Why do Your disciples violate the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

But He answered them, “Why do you also violate the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and mother,’[a] and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’[b] But you say, ‘Whoever shall say to his father or his mother, “What you would have profited from me is a gift to God,” will be free from honoring his father or his mother.’ So you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. You hypocrites, Isaiah well prophesied of you, saying:

‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips,
    but their heart is far from Me.
In vain they do worship Me,
    teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’[c]

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