CHAPTER XXVIII.

PHARISEES MURMUR--WASHINGS AND OTHER TRADITIONS.

Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash _their_ hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And _when they come_ from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, _as_ the washing of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables.

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them,

Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to _his_ father or _his_ mother, _It is_ Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; and honor not his father or his mother, _he shall be free_. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

_Ye_ hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with _their_ lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching _for_ doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, _as_ the washing of pots and cups: and many other such things ye do.

And when he had called all the people _unto him_, he said unto them,

Hearken unto me every one _of you_, and understand: there is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

And when he was entered into the house from the people, then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said,

Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Then answered Peter, and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. And Jesus said,

Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, _it_ cannot defile him; because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, false witness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.