Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Pharisees Object To Eating With Unwashed Hands. Jesus Condemns Their Traditions

7 And the Pharisees and some of the scribes are gathered-together with Him, having come from Jerusalem. ² And having seen some of His disciples, that they are eating their bread with defiled^[a] hands, that is, unwashed^[b]— ³ for the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands with a fist^[c], holding-on-to the tradition of the elders. ⁴ And they do not eat [when they return]^[d] from the marketplace unless they cleanse^[e] [themselves]. And there are many other traditions which they received to hold-on-to— the cleansing of cups and pitchers and copper-pots and couches^[f]. ⁵ And the Pharisees and the scribes ask Him, “For what reason are Your disciples not walking according to the tradition of the elders, but are eating their bread with defiled hands?” ⁶ And the One said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly concerning you hypocrites, as it has been written [in Isa 29:13], that ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far distant from Me. ⁷ But they are worshiping Me in-vain^[g], teaching as teachings^[h] the commandments of humans’. ⁸ Having neglected the commandment of God, you are holding on to the tradition of humans!”