The Tradition of the Elders

Gospel

¹The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and ²saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were "unclean," that is, unwashed. ³(The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. ⁴When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)

 ⁵So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with 'unclean' hands?"

 ⁶He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
   " 'These people honor me with their lips,
      but their hearts are far from me.
 ⁷They worship me in vain;
      their teachings are but rules taught by men.' ⁸You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."

Reaction

        During Jesus' time, there were many traditions. They believe in a lot of things especially in their faiths. As Jesus told, we should not do things just because it's the standard. Jesus told us to worship, we will worship with everything we have. Not because ewe are told to. I too am like this. there are a lot of times when I do things because I really want to and when I want to attend the mass, I never grow tired of visiting the church.

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