And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.

I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: " You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness,

idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,

envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?"

He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.

And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

"For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men; the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do."

And He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.

"For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'

"But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, " Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban (that is, dedicated to the temple)";

"and you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother,

"making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do."

And when He had called all the multitude to Him, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand:

"There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.

"If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"