What Does the Bible Say About Tradition?

“At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.”

“But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.”

“But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;”

“How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread , which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?”

“Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?”

“But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.”

“But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.”

“For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.”

“Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.”

“But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?”

“For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.”

“But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;”

“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.”

“Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,”

“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”

“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

“And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:”

“Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.”

“Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?”

“But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.”

“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

“Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.”

“And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?”

“Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?”

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.”

“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:”

“These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.”

“For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. oft: or, diligently: in the original, with the fist: Theophylact, up to the elbow”

“And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. pots: sextarius is about a pint and an half tables: or, beds”

“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?”

“He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”

“Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

“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.”

“And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. reject: or, frustrate”

“And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.”

“And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?”

“And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;”

“How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread , and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?”

“And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.”

“And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.”

“And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.”

“But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.”

“Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?”

“And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.”

“And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.”

“This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof , and not die.”

“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.”

“Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. ordinances: or, traditions”

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. rudiments: or, elements make a prey: or, seduce you, or, lead you astray”

“Therefore , brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”

“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.”

“Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.”

“But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;”