Matthew 15:2-20

2“Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

3He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?

4For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’

5But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”—

6then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.

7Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

8‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.

9And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

10When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand:

11Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

12Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

13But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.

14Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

15Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”

16So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding?

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

18But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.

19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

20These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”