1. One day some Pharisees and teachers of religious law arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus.
2. They noticed that some of his disciples failed to follow the Jewish ritual of hand washing before eating.
3. (The Jews, especially the Pharisees, do not eat until they have poured water over their cupped hands, as required by their ancient traditions.
4. Similarly, they don’t eat anything from the market until they immerse their hands in water. This is but one of many traditions they have clung to—such as their ceremonial washing of cups, pitchers, and kettles.)