âYou have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions...â
That Which Defiles
1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)
5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, âWhy donât your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?â
6 He replied, âIsaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
ââThese people honor me with their lips, Â Â but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; Â Â their teachings are merely human rules.â
8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.â
9 And he continued, âYou have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! 10 For Moses said, âHonor your father and mother,â and, âAnyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.â 11 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)â 12 then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.â â Mark 7:1-13 | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International VersionÂź, NIVÂź Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.Âź All rights reserved worldwide. Cross References: Exodus 20:12; Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 1:2; Isaiah 29:13; Jeremiah 35:5; Matthew 15:1-2; Matthew 15:8-9; Matthew 15:5; Matthew 23:25; Luke 11:38; John 2:6; Acts 10:14; 2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:14
