Mark 7:1-23

11The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered to Him after they came 2from Jerusalem, 2and saw that some of His disciples were eating their bread with 34unholy hands, that is, unwashed. 3(For the Pharisees and all the other Jews do not eat unless they 5carefully wash their hands, thereby holding firmly to the 6tradition of the elders; 4and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they 7completely cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received as traditions to firmly hold, such as the 8washing of 9cups, pitchers, and copper pots.) 5And the Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk in accordance with the 10tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with 1112unholy hands?” 6But He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘13This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me.714And in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the 15tradition of men.”

9He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your 16tradition. 10For Moses said, ‘17Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘18The one who speaks evil of father or mother, is 19certainly to be put to death’; 11but you say, ‘If a person says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is 20Corban (that is, 21given to God),’ 12you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother; 13thereby invalidating the word of God by your 22tradition 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 person which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which come out of the person are what defile the person23.”

17And when He later entered a house, away from the crowd, 24His disciples asked Him about the parable. 18And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding as well? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the person from outside cannot defile him, 19because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and 25is eliminated?” (Thereby He declared 26all foods 27clean.) 20And He was saying, “28That which comes out of the person, that is what defiles the person. 21For from within, out of the 29hearts of people, come the evil thoughts, acts of sexual immorality, thefts, murders, acts of adultery, 22deeds of greed, wickedness, deceit, indecent behavior, 3031envy, slander, 32pride, and foolishness. 23All these evil things come from within and defile the person.”