One skilled in the Law invited Jesus to supper, in order to tempt him. Jesus went there with his disciples. Many scribes, to tempt him, were waiting in the house.

There, the disciples sat down to the table without washing their hands. The scribes called Jesus, saying, "Why do not your disciples observe the traditions of our elders, in not washing their hands before they eat bread?" Jesus answered, "I ask you, for what cause have you annulled the precept of God to observe your traditions? You say to the sons of poor fathers, 'Offer and make vows to the Temple.' Therefore, they make vows of that little wherewith they ought to support their fathers. Then when their fathers wish to take money, the sons cry out, 'This money is consecrated to God'; whereby the fathers suffer. O false scribes, hypocrites, does God use this money? Surely no, for God does not eat, as he says by his servant David the prophet, 'Shall I then eat the flesh of bulls and drink the blood of sheep? Render to me the sacrifice of praise, and offer to me your vows; for if I should be hungry, I will not ask aught of you, seeing that all things are in my hands, and the abundance of paradise is with me.' O Hypocrites, you do this to fill your purse, and therefore you tithe rue and mint.

Oh miserable ones, for to others you show the clearest way, by which you will not go. You scribes and Sadducees, lay upon the shoulders of others weights of unbearable weight, but you yourselves the while are not willing to move them with one of your fingers.

Truly, I say to you that every evil has entered into the world under the pretext of the elders. Tell me, who made idolatry to enter into the world, if not the usage of the elders?

There was a king who exceedingly loved his father, whose name was Baal. Whereupon, when the father was dead, his son for his own consolation, caused to be made an image like to his father, and set it up in the market-place of the city. He made a decree that everyone who approached that statue within a space of fifteen cubits should be safe, and no one should do him hurt. Hence, the malefactors, due to the benefit they received therefrom, began to offer to the statue roses and flowers.

In a short time, the offerings were changed into money and food, insomuch that they called it god, to honour it. Which thing from custom was transformed into a law, insomuch that the idol of Baal spread through the entire world. Almighty God laments this by the prophet Isaiah, saying, 'Truly, this people worship me in vain, for they have annulled my Law given to them by my servant Moses, and follow the traditions of their elders.'

Truly, I say to you that to eat bread with unclean hands does not defile a man, because what enters into the man does not defile him, but what comes out of the man defiles him."

Thereupon, said one of the scribes, "If I eat pork or other unclean meats, will they not defile my conscience?" Jesus answered, "Disobedience will not enter into the man, but will come out of the man, from his heart; and therefore, he will be defiled when he eats forbidden food."

Then one of the Sadducees said, "Master, you have spoken much against idolatry as though the people of Israel had idols, and so you have done us wrong." Jesus answered, "I know well that in Israel today there are not statues of wood; but there are statues of flesh. … Truly, all that a man loves, for which he leaves everything else but that, is his god."

Then he who had invited Jesus said, "Master, what is the greatest sin?" Jesus answered, "Which is the greatest ruin of a house?" Everyone was silent, when Jesus with his finger pointed to the foundation, and said, "If the foundation gives way, immediately the house falls in ruin, in such wise that it is necessary to build it up anew; but if every other part gives way it can be repaired. Even so then I say to you, that idolatry is the greatest sin, because it deprives a man entirely of faith, and consequently of God; so that he can have no spiritual affection. However, every other sin leaves to man, the hope of obtaining mercy. Therefore, I say that idolatry is the greatest sin."

All stood amazed at the speaking of Jesus, for they perceived that it could not in any wise be assailed.