Matthew 15:1-9

EasyEnglish Bible

Jesus tells the Pharisees and teachers of God's Law to obey God

15 After that, a group of Pharisees and teachers of God's Law came from Jerusalem to talk to Jesus. ² They said, ‘Our leaders in past times taught us the right way to do everything. But your disciples do not obey the things that our leaders taught us. They do not wash their hands in the right way before they eat a meal. Why is that?’

³ Jesus replied, ‘God tells us the right way to obey him. But you refuse. Instead, you like to keep your own ideas. ⁴ God's Law says: “You must love your father and mother and obey them.” God also said, “A person should die if he says bad things against his father or against his mother.” ⁵ But you teach that a person may say to his father or to his mother, “I would have given gifts to help you. But I cannot do that because I have given them to God instead.” ⁶ Then, you let that person give nothing to his parents. He does not have to help them. This shows that you have not obeyed what God says is right. Instead, you have obeyed your own ideas. ⁷ You are hypocrites! What God's prophet Isaiah wrote about you long ago is true: