Paul has just concluded his discussion about strong and weak believers in matters of disputable practices, particularly regarding food and observance of special days. He explained that those strong in faith should not look down on the weak, nor should the weak judge the strong, because God has accepted both. Paul emphasized that each person will give an account to God and that the kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. He urged believers to pursue peace and mutual edification, warning against destroying God's work over food issues. Paul declared that while all food is clean, it is wrong to cause another believer to stumble by one's eating. He concluded that whatever does not come from faith is sin, establishing the principle that believers should act according to their conscience while being mindful of others' spiritual welfare.
[1] We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. [2] Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. [3] For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” [4] For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. [5] Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, [6] that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[7] Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. [8] Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, [9] and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:
“For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles,
And sing to Your name.”
[10] And again he says:
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!”
[11] And again:
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!
Laud Him, all you peoples!”
[12] And again, Isaiah says:
“There shall be a root of Jesse;
And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles,
In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”
[13] Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jewish religious leaders from Jerusalem travel to Galilee to confront Jesus about His disciples' failure to observe the traditional ceremonial hand-washing rituals before eating. This confrontation occurs after Jesus has performed numerous miracles in Galilee, including feeding the five thousand and walking on water. The Pharisees and scribes have been increasingly troubled by Jesus' growing popularity and His apparent disregard for their oral traditions, which they consider binding interpretations of Mosaic Law. These religious authorities seek to challenge Jesus' credibility by pointing out His disciples' violation of the elders' traditions. The Pharisees and scribes are addressing Jesus.
[1] Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, [2] “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
[3] He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? [4] For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ [5] But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God ”— [6] then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. [7] Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
[8] ‘Thesepeople draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
[9] And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”
[10] When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: [11] Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
[12] Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
[13] But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. [14] Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
[15] Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”
[16] So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? [17] Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? [18] But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. [19] For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. [20] These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”