The Traditions of the Elders

15 Then [fn]the scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem came to Jesus and said, 2 “Why do yoʋr disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” 3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God [fn]commanded, ‘Honor yoʋr father and yoʋr mother,’ and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of his father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say, ‘If anyone says to his father or mother, “Whatever benefit yoʋ might have received from me is now a gift devoted to God,” [fn]then he certainly need not honor his father [fn]or his mother.’ 6 You have nullified the [fn]commandment of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said,

8 ‘This people [fn]draws near to me with their mouth

and honors me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me.

9 They worship me in vain,

teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

10 Then Jesus called the crowd over and said to them, “Listen and understand: 11 It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person; it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles a person.” 12 Then [fn]his disciples came and said to him, “Do yoʋ know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard what yoʋ said?” 13 Jesus answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Leave them be; they are blind guides [fn]of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.”

15 Then Peter said to him in response, “Explain [fn]this parable to us.” 16 Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not [fn]yet understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled into the latrine? 18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these defile a person. 19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false testimony, and slander. 20 These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a person.”