Matthew 15:1-9

Good News Translation

The Teaching of the Ancestors^(A)

15 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the Law came from Jerusalem to Jesus and asked him, ² “Why is it that your disciples disobey the teaching handed down by our ancestors? They don't wash their hands in the proper way before they eat!”

³ Jesus answered, “And why do you disobey God's command and follow your own teaching? ^4 (B)For God said, ‘Respect your father and your mother,’ and ‘If you curse your father or your mother, you are to be put to death.’ ⁵ But you teach that if people have something they could use to help their father or mother, but say, ‘This belongs to God,’ ⁶ they do not need to honor their father.^[a] In this way you disregard God's command, in order to follow your own teaching. ⁷ You hypocrites! How right Isaiah was when he prophesied about you!