MY VERSION
The Pharisees approached Jesus and made the comment:
It is traditional to wash your hand before you eat bread. Why don’t your disciples follow this tradition?
Jesus said:
It is not important. It does not dirty a man.
LONGER VERSION
Matthew 15:1 KING JAMES VERSION
Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, {15:2} Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. {15:3} But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? {15:4} For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. {15:5} But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; {15:6} And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. {15:7} Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, {15:8} This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. {15:9} But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. {15:10} And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: {15:11} Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. {15:12} Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? {15:13} But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. {15:14} Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. {15:15} Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. {15:16} And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? {15:17} Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? {15:18} But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. {15:19} For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: {15:20} These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. {15:21} Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. {15:22} And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
QUESTION:
Did Jesus tell his disciples to not wash their hands before they eat?
The Pharisees approached Jesus and made the comment:
It is traditional to wash your hand before you eat bread. Why don’t your disciples follow this tradition?
Jesus said:
It is not important. It does not dirty a man.
LONGER VERSION
Matthew 15:1 KING JAMES VERSION
Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, {15:2} Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. {15:3} But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? {15:4} For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. {15:5} But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; {15:6} And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. {15:7} Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, {15:8} This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. {15:9} But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. {15:10} And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: {15:11} Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. {15:12} Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? {15:13} But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. {15:14} Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. {15:15} Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. {15:16} And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? {15:17} Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? {15:18} But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. {15:19} For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: {15:20} These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. {15:21} Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. {15:22} And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
QUESTION:
Did Jesus tell his disciples to not wash their hands before they eat?
