² “Why do your disciples^(A) break the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat.”^[a](B)

² They observed that some of his disciples were eating bread with unclean^(A)—that is, unwashed—hands. ³ (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, keeping the tradition of the elders. ⁴ When they come from the marketplace,^(B) they do not eat unless they have washed.^(C) And there are many other customs they have received and keep, like the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and dining couches.^[a](D)) ⁵ So the Pharisees^(E) and the scribes^(F) asked him, “Why don’t your disciples live^[b] according to the tradition of the elders,^(G) instead of eating bread with ceremonially unclean^[c] hands?”