Mace(i)
1 The Pharisees, and certain Scribes from Jerusalem, came in a body to Jesus;
2 when observing that some of his disciples were eating with profane hands, that is, without having wash'd them, they found fault.
3 for the Pharisees, and the Jews in general, in pursuance of their antient traditions, never eat till they have wash'd their hands up to their elbows.
4 nay, when they have been at any publick place, they never eat till they have washed. they observe besides several traditions, such as the washing of cups, pots, brass vessels, and beds.
5 the Pharisees, and Scribes therefore ask'd Jesus, why don't your disciples observe the tradition of the antients? why do they take their meals without washing their hands?
6 Jesus answered, to such hypocrites as you may well be applied those words of the prophet Esaias, "this people honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7 in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the institutions of men."
8 for laying aside what is of divine appointment, you stick to their human traditions, about the washing of pots, and cups, and many other the like practices.
9 You are in the right, said he, to abolish the laws of God, to make way for such traditions.
10 Moses said, "honour thy father and thy mother;" and, if any one speak contemptibly of his father, or his mother, let him be put to death.
11 but your doctrine is this, if any one shall tell his father or his mother, that what he could bestow for their relief, is corban, that is, to be given to the temple;
12 you discharge him from the obligation of doing any thing for his father or his mother.
13 by such traditions, and such a number of practices, as you have settled, the word of God is stript of all its authority.
14 Then Jesus having called all the people to him, said, attend every one of you, and understand.
15 there is nothing from without, that entring into a man can defile him: but that which originally proceeds from the man, is what defiles him.
16 he that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
17 When he withdrew from the people into the house, his disciples ask'd him the meaning of that maxim.
18 and he said, are you likewise so void of understanding? don't you perceive that what passes from without into a man cannot defile him?
19 because that does not enter into his heart, but into the belly, whence it is discharg'd, the purest part of the food being left for nutrition.
20 but, said he, that which proceeds from a man, is what defiles him:
21 for from within, from the heart of man proceed wicked designs, adulteries, fornications, murders; thefts,
22 avarice, malice, fraud, impudence, envy, scandal, pride, vanity.
23 all these vices come from within, and are what defile the man.