57. After the Sermon
1The Pharisees along with the scribes who had come from Jerusalem 2noticed that some of his disciples ate with hands defiled, that is, unwashed. 3(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they wash their hands, observing the tradition of the elders; 4and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they purify themselves; and there are many other traditions which they observe, including the washing of cups and pots and vessels of bronze.) 5And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with hands defiled?”3He answered them, “And why do you transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother.' 5But you say, 'If anyone tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is given to God, he need not honor his father.'a 6So, for the sake of your tradition, you have made void the word of God. 8You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men. And many such like things you do.”
(Mk. 7:1–5; Mt. 15:3–6; Mk. 7:8) (continued)
a “need not honor his father”—That is, the children would say that the part of their wealth they would normally have given to their parents had been given to God instead. This enabled them to not share their wealth with their parents in need—thereby they disobeyed the commandment to “honor your father and your mother.”
The Jerusalem religious leaders accused Jesus of transgressing the tradition of the elders; he answered them by pointing out that they put their own teachings and traditions above God's commandments.
Mk. 7:1 The / Now when the (RSV) • Pharisees along with the / Pharisees gathered together to him with some of the (RSV)
Mk. 7:2 noticed that (NEB) / they saw that (RSV)
Mk. 7:4 observe, including the / observe, the (RSV)
Mt. 15:4 mother.' / mother,' and, 'he who speaks evil of father or mother let him surely die.' (RSV)
Mk. 7:8 men. And many such like things you do. (KJV) / men. (RSV) (153:3/1712)
