Mark 7:1-13

The Things That Defile

7¹ And gathered together unto him are the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, having come from Jerusalem, ² and having seen certain of his disciples with defiled hands—that is, unwashed—eating bread, they found fault; ³ for the Pharisees, and all the Jews, if they do not wash the hands to the wrist, do not eat, holding the tradition of the elders, ⁴ and, 'coming' from the market-place, if they do not baptize themselves, they do not eat; and many other things there are that they received to hold, baptisms of cups, and pots, and brazen vessels, and couches. ⁵ Then question him do the Pharisees and the scribes, 'Wherefore do thy disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but with unwashed hands do eat the bread?' ⁶ and he answering said to them—'Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you, hypocrites, as it hath been written, This people with the lips doth honor Me, and their heart is far from Me; ⁷ and in vain do they worship Me, teaching teachings, commands of men; ⁸ for, having put away the command of God, ye hold the tradition of men, baptisms of pots and cups; and many other such like things ye do.' ⁹ And he said to them, 'Well do ye put away the command of God that your tradition ye may keep; ¹⁰ for Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, He who is speaking evil of father or mother—let him die the death; ¹¹ and ye say, If a man may say to father or to mother, Korban (that is, a gift), 'is' whatever thou mayest be profited out of mine, ¹² and no more do ye suffer him to do anything for his father or for his mother, ¹³ setting aside the word of God for your tradition that ye delivered; and many such like things ye do.'