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

God Has Had Enough

10 Hear (A)the word of the Lord,
You rulers of (B)Sodom;
Listen to the instruction of our God,
You people of Gomorrah!
11 (C)What are your many sacrifices to Me?”
Says the Lord.
“I [a]have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
And the fat of fattened cattle;
And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats.
12 When you come (D)to appear before Me,
Who requires [b]of you this trampling of My courtyards?
13 Do not go on bringing your worthless offerings,
(E)Incense is an abomination to Me.
(F)New moon and Sabbath, the (G)proclamation of an assembly—
I cannot (H)endure wrongdoing and the festive assembly.
14 [c]I hate your new moon festivals and your (I)appointed feasts,
They have become a burden to Me;
I am (J)tired of bearing them.
15 So when you (K)spread out your hands in prayer,
(L)I will hide My eyes from you;
Yes, even though you (M)offer many prayers,
I will not be listening.
(N)Your hands are [d]covered with blood.

16 (O)Wash yourselves, (P)make yourselves clean;
(Q)Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight.
(R)Stop doing evil,
17 Learn to do good;
(S)Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor,
(T)Obtain justice for the orphan,
Plead for the widow’s case.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 1:11 Or am sated with
  2. Isaiah 1:12 Lit of your hand
  3. Isaiah 1:14 Lit My soul hates
  4. Isaiah 1:15 Lit full of

Message at the Temple Gate

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, (A)Stand at the gate of the Lords house and proclaim there this word, and say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah, who enter by these gates to worship the Lord!’” This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: “(B)Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you live in this place. (C)Do not trust in deceptive words, saying, ‘[a]This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’ For (D)if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly (E)practice justice between a person and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the stranger, the [b](F)orphan, or the widow, and do not shed (G)innocent blood in this place, nor (H)follow other gods to your own ruin, then I will let you (I)live in this place, in the (J)land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.

“Behold, you are trusting in (K)deceptive words to no avail. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, [c](L)offer sacrifices to Baal, and follow (M)other gods that you have not known, 10 then (N)come and stand before Me in (O)this house which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are saved!’—so that you may do all these abominations? 11 Has (P)this house, which is called by My name, become a (Q)den of robbers in your sight? Behold, (R)I Myself have seen it,” declares the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 7:4 Lit They are
  2. Jeremiah 7:6 Or fatherless
  3. Jeremiah 7:9 Or burn incense

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