God’s Commandments, Man’s Traditions
aThen some Pharisees and scribes *came to Jesus bfrom Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they ado not wash their hands when they eat bread.” 3 And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, ‘aHonor your father and mother,’ and, ‘bHe who speaks evil of father or mother is to be put to death.’ 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever you might benefit from me is given to God,” 6 he need not honor his father.’ And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you:
8 ‘aThis people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far away from Me.
9 But in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as adoctrines the commands of men.’”