Mark 7:2-23

2and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with 1impure hands, that is, unwashed. 3(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they 2carefully wash their hands, thus observing the 3traditions of the elders; 4and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they 4cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the 5washing of 6cups and pitchers and copper pots.) 5The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the 7tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with 8impure hands?” 6And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘9This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me.710But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ 8Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the 11tradition of men.”

9He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your 12tradition. 10For Moses said, ‘13Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘14He who speaks evil of father or mother, is to 15be put to death’; 11but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is 16Corban (that is to say, 17given to God),’ 12you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; 13thus invalidating the word of God by your 18tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”

14After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: 15there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. 16[19If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”]

17When He had left the crowd and entered 20the house, 21His disciples questioned Him about the parable. 18And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, 19because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and 22is eliminated?” (Thus He declared 23all foods 24clean.) 20And He was saying, “25That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. 21For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, 26fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, 2728envy, slander, 29pride and foolishness. 23All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”