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Traditions and Commandments

(A)Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes (B)who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were (C)defiled, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash[a] their hands, holding to (D)the tradition of (E)the elders, and when they come from the market-place, they do not eat unless they wash.[b] And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as (F)the washing of (G)cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.[c]) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to (H)the tradition of (I)the elders, (J)but eat with (K)defiled hands?” And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you (L)hypocrites, as it is written,

(M)“‘This people honours me with their lips,
    but their heart is far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
    teaching as (N)doctrines the commandments of men.’

You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 7:3 Greek unless they wash with a fist, probably indicating a kind of ceremonial washing
  2. Mark 7:4 Greek unless they baptize; some manuscripts unless they purify themselves
  3. Mark 7:4 Some manuscripts omit and dining couches

What Defiles a Person

14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, (A)“Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 (B)There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 7:15 Some manuscripts add verse 16: If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear

21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, (A)murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, (B)sensuality, (C)envy, (D)slander, (E)pride, (F)foolishness. 23 (G)All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

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