Matthew 15:1-9

New King James Version

Defilement Comes from Within^(A)

15 Then ^(B)the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, ²^(C)“Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

³He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? ⁴For God commanded, saying, ^(D)‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ^(E)‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ ⁵But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, ^(F)“Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— ⁶then he need not honor his father ^[a]or mother.’ Thus you have made the ^[b]commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. ⁷^(G)Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

⁸‘These^(H) people ^[c]draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
⁹And in vain they worship Me,
^(I)Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”