The Tradition of the Elders

(Mark 7:1–13)

Then [some] scribes and Pharisees[fn] came to Jesus from Jerusalem [and] asked, 2 “Why {do} Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? vvv They do not wash their hands before they eat

3 

[Jesus] replied“And why {do} you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying,[fn]‘Honor [your] father and mother’[fn] and‘Anyone who curses [his] father or mother vvv must be put to death.’[fn] 5 But you say that if anyone says to [his] father or mother,‘Whatever vvv you would have received from me is a gift devoted [to God],’ 6 then[fn] vvv vvv he need not honor his father or mother [with it].[fn] Thus you nullify the commandment[fn] of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you

8 

‘These people draw near to Me with their mouths,

and {they}[fn] honor Me with [their] lips,

but their hearts are far from Me.

9 

They worship Me in vain;

they teach [as] doctrine [the] precepts of men.’[fn]”

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