Commandment of God and Tradition of the Elders

A purity dispute becomes a question of authority. Jesus charges his opponents with allowing a human tradition concerning dedicated resources to undermine the command to honor father and mother, then quotes Isaiah against worship that honors God with lips while the heart is far away.

Where this fits in the story: Torah requires honoring parents, and prophets repeatedly oppose religious forms that neutralize covenant obedience.

Where Scripture takes it next: Jesus turns from the specific dispute to a broader teaching about defilement coming from the heart.

Evidence boundary: “tradition” is not automatically negative in the Bible. The problem here is a tradition that overrides God’s command; later apostolic texts can use tradition positively.