7:2 defiled. The disciples had not washed in the manner prescribed by “the tradition of the elders” (vv. 3, 4), and so were considered ceremonially unclean. Jesus is critical of these traditional expansions of the ceremonial law by the scribes and Pharisees because they had so extended their traditions as to permit actual transgression of the moral law (vv. 9–13). His cross will finally bring the ceremonial law to an end.