Matthew 15:2-20

2“Why do Your disciples violate the tradition (religious laws) handed down by the [Jewish] elders? For Your disciples do not [ceremonially] wash their hands before they eat.”

3He replied to them, “Why also do you violate the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition [handed down by the elders]?

4For God said [through Moses], ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of or insults or treats improperly father or mother is to be put to death.’

5But you say, ‘If anyone says to his father or mother, “Whatever [money or resource that] I have that would help you is [already dedicated and] given to God,”

6he is not to honor his father or his mother [by helping them with their need].’ So by this you have invalidated the word of God [depriving it of force and authority and making it of no effect] for the sake of your tradition [handed down by the elders].

7You hypocrites (play-actors, pretenders), rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you when he said,

8‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me.

9But in vain do they worship Me, For they teach as doctrines the precepts of men.’ ”

10After Jesus called the crowd to Him, He said, “Listen and understand this:

11It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that defiles and dishonors him, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles and dishonors him.”

12Then the disciples came and said to Jesus, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard you say this?”

13He answered, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant will be torn up by the roots.

14Leave them alone; they are blind guides [leading blind followers]. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

15Peter asked Him, “Explain this parable [about what defiles a person] to us.”

16And He said, “Are you still so dull [and unable to put things together]?

17Do you not understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated?

18But whatever [word] comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this is what defiles and dishonors the man.

19For out of the heart come evil thoughts and plans, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slanders (verbal abuse, irreverent speech, blaspheming).

20These are the things which defile and dishonor the man; but eating with [ceremonially] unwashed hands does not defile the man.”