Study Desk

Breaking Human Traditions Now the Pharisees and some of the experts in the law who came from Jerusalem gathered around him. And they saw that some of Jesus' disciples ate their bread with unclean hands, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they perform a ritual washing, holding fast to the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. They hold fast to many other traditions: the washing of cups, pots, kettles, and dining couches.) The Pharisees and the experts in the law asked him, "Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with unwashed hands?" He said to them, "Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘ This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me . They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrine the commandments of men .' Having no regard for the command of God, you hold fast to human tradition." He also said to them, "You neatly reject the commandment of God in order to set up your tradition. For Moses said, ‘ Honor your father and your mother ,' and, ‘ Whoever insults his father or mother must be put to death .' But you say that if anyone tells his father or mother, ‘Whatever help you would have received from me is corban' (that is, a gift for God), then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like this." Then he called the crowd again and said to them, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand. There is nothing outside of a person that can defile him by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles him."

For it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and then goes out into the sewer." (This means all foods are clean.)

For from within, out of the human heart, come evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, murder,

He said to her, "Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and to throw it to the dogs."

They also had a few small fish. After giving thanks for these, he told them to serve these as well.

Then the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, asking for a sign from heaven to test him.

Sighing deeply in his spirit he said, "Why does this generation look for a sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to this generation."

Now they had forgotten to take bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat.

When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?" They replied, "Twelve."

"When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?" They replied, "Seven."

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it.

For what benefit is it for a person to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his life?

What can a person give in exchange for his life?

For if anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

So Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

(For they were afraid, and he did not know what to say.)

Then Jesus said to him, "‘If you are able?' All things are possible for the one who believes."

for he was teaching his disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise."

But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.

For whoever is not against us is for us.