Mark 7:5

So the Pharisees and scribes questioned Jesus: “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders? Instead, they eat with defiled hands.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Pharisees and scribes confront Jesus, asking why his disciples ignore the tradition of the elders and eat with defiled hands. This inquiry follows a description of their ritual washing practices for cups, pitchers, kettles, and couches.

The words — ἐπερωτῶσιν (eperōtōsin) translates literally as “questioned,” and Φαρισαῖοι (Pharisaioi) identifies the religious leaders initiating the challenge.

The thread — Matthew 15:2 records the identical challenge, while Acts 21:21 and 2 Thessalonians 3:6 trace how early communities navigated human tradition versus apostolic instruction.

Why it lands — It requires the reader to distinguish between mandated religious observance and human tradition that overrides or obscures divine authority.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

Cross-references

Acts 21:21 But they are under the impression that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or observe our customs.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us.
Matthew 15:2 “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.”
Mark 2:16 When the scribes who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with these people, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Acts 21:24 Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors about you, but that you also live in obedience to the law.
Galatians 1:14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Romans 4:12 And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
Mark 7:2 and they saw some of His disciples eating with hands that were defiled—that is, unwashed.
2 Thessalonians 3:11 For we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives, accomplishing nothing, but being busybodies.