Then the scribes and Pharisees who were in Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying,
2 "Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they don't wash their hands when they eat bread."
3 But he answered and said to them, "Why do you transgress the commandment of God by your traditions?
4 For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and mother;' and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'
5 But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or his mother, whatever I might have given to you for your benefit, has been given to God as a gift.'
6 So he does not honor his father or his mother, thinking to be free from the requirement. Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.
7 You hypocrites, Isaiah did correctly prophesy of you, saying,
8 'This people draws near to me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; but their hearts are far from me.1
9 But in vain they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.'"2
10 And he called the multitude and said to them, "Hear and understand:
11 It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."
12 Then his disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"
13 But he answered and said, "Every plant, which my heavenly Father has not planted, will be rooted up.3
14 Leave them alone and disregard them; they are blind guides and teachers.4 And if a blind man leads a blind man, they both will fall into a ditch."
15 Then Peter said to him, "Explain this parable to us."
16 And Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding?
17 Do not you yet understand, that whatever enters through the mouth goes into the stomach, and is passed out and eliminated?
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile a man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and blasphemies.5
20 These are the things that defile a man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."
21 Then Jesus left there, departing for the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
