"Then came to

Jesus scribes

and Pharisees,
which were of

Jerusalem,

saying,

Why do thy
disciples

transgress the

tradition of the

elders?
for they wash

not their hands

when the eat bread" Matthew 15:1-2

The law was very strict in ceremonial rites.
Which included the washing of hands before
and after a meal. There was no such command-
ment concerning this in the Law of Moses, but
it appears that this requirement was developed
in their schools.