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So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders[a] but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:(A)

‘This people honors me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me;
In vain do they worship me,
    teaching as doctrines human precepts.’

You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother shall die.’(B) 11 Yet you say, ‘If a person says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban”’[b] (meaning, dedicated to God), 12 you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. 13 You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”

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Footnotes

  1. 7:5 Tradition of the elders: the body of detailed, unwritten, human laws regarded by the scribes and Pharisees to have the same binding force as that of the Mosaic law; cf. Gal 1:14.
  2. 7:11 Qorban: a formula for a gift to God, dedicating the offering to the temple, so that the giver might continue to use it for himself but not give it to others, even needy parents.

So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders(A) instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”

He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

“‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
    their teachings are merely human rules.’[a](B)

You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”(C)

And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe[b] your own traditions!(D) 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’[c](E) and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’[d](F) 11 But you say(G) that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— 12 then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God(H) by your tradition(I) that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 7:7 Isaiah 29:13
  2. Mark 7:9 Some manuscripts set up
  3. Mark 7:10 Exodus 20:12; Deut. 5:16
  4. Mark 7:10 Exodus 21:17; Lev. 20:9