Mark:7:1-23

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* One day the Pharisees came to him in a body with some Scribes who had come from Jerusalem . * They had noticed that some of his disciples were eating with "common ," that is to say , unwashed hands . * For the Pharisees and all of the Jews do not eat until they have ceremoniously washed their hands in obedience to the tradition of the elders ; * and when they come from the market-place they do not eat without bathing first . and they have many other customs which they have received and observe , such as the washing of cups and jugs and copper pans . * So the Pharisees and Scribes asked him . "Why do your disciples not follow the traditions of the elders ? Why do they eat with common unwashed hands ?" * "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you , hypocrites ," he answered . "As it is written , "This people honor me with their lips , While their hearts are far from me ; * But in vain do they worship me , For their teaching is only human precepts . * "You neglect the commandment of God , and hold fast the traditions of men ." * "It is praiseworthy , is it ," he exclaimed , "to reject the command of God that you may keep your tradition ! * For although Moses said , Honor your father and mother , and Let him who curses father or mother suffer death , * you say that if a man tells his father or mother , This money which otherwise you would have received from me , is Korban (that is , a thing devoted to God ), * you exempt him from doing any service for his father or mother . * Thus by your tradition which you have handed down you set at naught the word of God ; and you do many other things like that ." * Then again he called the crowd to him and said . * "Listen to me , all of you , and understand ; there is nothing outside a man which by entering in can defile him ; but it is what comes from him that defiled him ." * After he had left the crowd and gone indoors his disciples began asking him about the parable . * "Are even you without understanding ?" he said . "Do you not perceive that nothing whatever from without can defile a man by entering him , * because it does not go into his heart , but into his belly , and passes away , ejected from him ?" By these words he pronounced all foods clean . * "What comes out of a man ," he continued , "is what defiles him . * From within , from the heart of man , proceed evil purposes - * fornication , theft , murder , adultery , greed , malice , deceit , wantonness , envy , slander , arrogance , reckless folly - * all these wicked things issue from within and defile a man ."

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