§ 77. PHARISEES FROM JERUSALEM REPROACH JESUS FOR ALLOWING HIS DISCIPLES TO DISREGARD THEIR TRADITIONS ABOUT CEREMONIAL DEFILEMENT OF THE HANDS. A PUZZLING PARABLE IN REPLY
Probably in Capernaum
| Mark 7:1-23 | Matt. 15:1-20 | John 7:1 |
| 1 And there are gathered together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which had come from Jerusalem, 2 and had seen that some of his disciples ate their bread with 6defiled, that is, unwashen, hands. 3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands 7diligently, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders: 4 and when they come from the marketplace, except they 8wash themselves, they eat not: and many other things there be, which they have received to hold, 9washings of cups, and pots, and brasen vessels.10 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes ask him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with 6defiled hands? 6 And he said unto them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, But their heart is far from me. 7 But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men. 8 Ye leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men. 9 And he said unto them, Full well do ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses [see Ex. 20:12; Deut. 5:16] said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, He that speaketh evil of father or mother, let him 1die the death: 11 but ye say, If a man shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is Corban, that is to say, Given to God [see Ex. 21:17; Lev. 20:9]; 12 ye no longer suffer him to do aught for his father or his mother; 13 making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things ye do. 14 And he called to him the multitude again, and said unto them, Hear me all of you, and understand: 15 there is nothing from without the man, that going into him can defile him: but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man.11 17 And when he was entered into the house from the multitude, his disciples asked of him the parable. 18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Perceive ye not, that whatsoever from without goeth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19 because it goeth not into his heart, but into his belly, and goeth out into the draught? This he said, making all meats clean. 20 And he said, That which proceedeth out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, 12evil thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts, murders, adul- teries, 22 covetings, wickednesses, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, railing, pride, foolishness: 23 all these evil things proceed from within, and defile the man. | 1 Then there come to Jesus from Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes, | 1 And after these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him. |
saying, 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 And he answered and said unto them, 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying [see Isa. 29:13], 8 This people honoureth me with their lips; But their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men. 3 Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God said, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, He that speaketh evil of father or mother, let him 1die the death. 5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is given to God; he shall not honour his father2. 6 And ye have made void the 3word of God because of your tradition. 10 And he called to him the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and under- stand: 11 Not that which entereth into the mouth defileth the man; but that which proceedeth out of the mouth, this defileth the man. 12 Then came the disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were 4offended, when they heard this saying? 13 But he answered and said, Every 5plant which my heavenly Father planted not, shall be rooted up. 14 Let them alone: they are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both shall fall into a pit. 15 And Peter answered and said unto him, Declare unto us the parable. 16 And he said, Are ye also even yet without understanding? 17 Perceive ye not, that whatsoever goeth into the mouth passeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18 But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings: 20 these are the things which defile the man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not the man. | ||
1 Or, surely die.
2 Some ancient authorities add or his mother.
3 Some ancient authorities read law.
4 Gr. caused to stumble.
5 Gr. planting.
6 Or, common.
7 Or, up to the elbow. Gr. with the fist.