For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.”
Parallel translations
- WEB “For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men — the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things.”
- KJV For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
- BSB You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.”
- NKJV For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men —the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”
- NASB Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus charged that they abandoned God's commandment to cling to human tradition. It names their fundamental error directly.
Overview
Jesus contrasted the commandment of God, which they neglected, with the traditions of men, which they clung to tightly. By prioritizing their own rules they had effectively set aside what God commanded. The rebuke calls all believers to test every tradition against the authority of Scripture.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Mark 7:3–4(For the Pharisees and all the Jews, don’t eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders.
- Isa 1:12When you come to appear before me, who has required this at your hand, to trample my courts?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 7:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.