^{1 Ref} Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying,

^{2 Ref} "Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don't wash their hands when they eat bread."

^{3 Ref} He answered them, "Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition?

^{4 Ref} For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.'

^{5 Ref} But you say, 'Whoever may tell his father or his mother, "Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God,"

^{6 Ref} he shall not honor his father or mother.' You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition.

^{7 Ref} You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,

^{8 Ref} 'These people draw near to me with their mouth, And honor me with their lips; But their heart is far from me.

^{9 Ref} And in vain do they worship me, Teaching as doctrine rules made by men.'"

^{10 Ref} He summoned the multitude, and said to them, "Hear, and understand.

^{11 Ref} That which enters into the mouth doesn't defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man."

^{12 Ref} Then the disciples came, and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying?"

^{13 Ref} But he answered, "Every plant which my heavenly Father didn't plant will be uprooted.

^{14 Ref} Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit."

^{15 Ref} Peter answered him, "Explain the parable to us."

^{16 Ref} So Jesus said, "Do you also still not understand?

^{17 Ref} Don't you understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly, and then out of the body?

^{18 Ref} But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man.

^{19 Ref} For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies.

^{20 Ref} These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn't defile the man."