“ Why don’t your disciples obey what the elders teach? Your disciples don’t wash their hands before they eat!”Jesus replied,“ And why don’t you obey God’s command? You would rather follow your own teachings!
They saw some of his disciples eating food with“ unclean” hands. That means they were not washed.The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands to make them“ clean.” That’s what the elders teach.When they come from the market, they do not eat unless they wash. And they follow many other teachings. For example, they wash cups, pitchers, and kettles in a special way.So the Pharisees and the teachers of the law questioned Jesus.“ Why don’t your disciples live by what the elders teach?” they asked.“ Why do they eat their food with‘ unclean’ hands?”
