Mark 7:1–9

¹Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered together to him, having come from Jerusalem.↗

²Now when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is unwashed, hands, they found fault.↗

³(For the Pharisees and all the Jews don’t eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders.↗

⁴They don’t eat when they come from the marketplace unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things which they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and couches.)↗

⁵The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why don’t your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?”↗

⁶He answered them,“Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.↗

⁷They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’↗

⁸“For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things.”↗

⁹He said to them,“Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.↗