Page:As others saw Him.djvu/111

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THE REBUKING OF JESUS.
105

And he addressed himself to Jesus, and said, "Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?"

Then Jesus spoke out, and as he spoke he strode up and down the room, with his hand clutching the air, and the vein throbbing on his left temple. "Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honoreth 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.'" Then facing us all, he added, "For ye lay aside the commandment of God, and hold the tradition of men."

"How so, master?" said Elisha; "prove thy words."

"It is said in the Word of God, 'Honor thy father and thy mother,' and yet the Sages say, 'If a man be asked by his father or mother to honor them with a gift, and he say, "I vow that thing to the Almighty," then it is Corban,' and put aside for the Lord, so that his parents cannot enjoy thereof. Thus by your tradition about vows ye make the Word of God