Bible Verses About Ecclesiasticism

And it came to pass, he reclining (at meat) in the house, that lo, many tax-gatherers and sinners having come, were lying (at meat) with Jesus and his disciples,

and the Pharisees having seen, said to his disciples, `Wherefore with the tax-gatherers and sinners doth your teacher eat?'

And Jesus having heard, said to them, `They who are whole have no need of a physician, but they who are ill;

but having gone, learn ye what is, Kindness I will, and not sacrifice, for I did not come to call righteous men, but sinners, to reformation.'

and the Pharisees having seen, said to him, `Lo, thy disciples do that which it is not lawful to do on a sabbath.'

And he said to them, `Did ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, himself and those with him--

how he went into the house of God, and the loaves of the presentation did eat, which it is not lawful to him to eat, nor to those with him, except to the priests alone?

`Or did ye not read in the Law, that on the sabbaths the priests in the temple do profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

and I say to you, that a greater than the temple is here;

and if ye had known what is: Kindness I will, and not sacrifice--ye had not condemned the blameless,

Then come unto Jesus do they from Jerusalem--scribes and Pharisees--saying,

`Wherefore do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they do not wash their hands when they may eat bread.'

And he answering said to them, `Wherefore also do ye transgress the command of God because of your tradition?

for God did command, saying, Honour thy father and mother; and, He who is speaking evil of father or mother--let him die the death;

but ye say, Whoever may say to father or mother, An offering is whatever thou mayest be profited by me; --

and he may not honour his father or his mother, and ye did set aside the command of God because of your tradition.

`Hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,

This people doth draw nigh to Me with their mouth, and with the lips it doth honour Me, but their heart is far off from Me;

and in vain do they worship Me, teaching teachings--commands of men.'

And having called near the multitude, he said to them, `Hear and understand:

not that which is coming into the mouth doth defile the man, but that which is coming forth from the mouth, this defileth the man.'

Then his disciples having come near, said to him, `Hast thou known that the Pharisees, having heard the word, were stumbled?'

And he answering said, `Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant shall be rooted up;

let them alone, guides they are--blind of blind; and if blind may guide blind, both into a ditch shall fall.'

And Peter answering said to him, `Explain to us this simile.'