Jesus doesn't just quote Isaiah; he uses the prophet's words to label the Pharisees as "hypocrites," revealing that their outward observance of traditions was a performance masking a deep disconnect from God's heart. The word "well" here carries a biting irony, underscoring that Isaiah's ancient prophecy perfectly described their deceptive spiritual state.
And he 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; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is directly confronting a delegation of Pharisees and scribes who have traveled from Jerusalem to question his disciples about their failure to follow ancient traditions of ritual handwashing. They've challenged Jesus on this, and he turns their accusation back on them, exposing the hypocrisy of their outward religious practices by quoting the prophet Isaiah.
Jesus uses a powerful rhetorical device when quoting Isaiah. It's not a compliment, but a sharp indictment. What makes this 'well' spoken?
When Jesus says, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites," the word 'well' (kalos in Greek) carries a heavy dose of irony. It's like saying, 'You fit this description perfectly.' Isaiah's prophecy wasn't meant to praise them, but to expose their spiritual emptiness.
Think about it: The religious leaders were proud of their adherence to tradition and the Law. But Jesus, using Isaiah's words, turns their pride on its head. He's saying, 'You are so good at appearing righteous, you've become the very model of the hypocrisy Isaiah described!' This isn't just a gentle correction; it's a divine diagnosis of a heart problem masked by outward actions.
What does it mean for your 'heart' to be far from God? It’s more than just a feeling; it’s about where your deepest affections and loyalties lie.
The core of Jesus' accusation is the disconnect between outward religious practice and the inner disposition of the heart. 'Their heart is far from me' means their true desires, affections, and priorities are not with God.
These religious leaders were meticulously following man-made traditions (like ritual handwashing) because those traditions were important to them and their social standing. But their inner selves weren't engaged with God's commands or His presence. Worship, in God's eyes, isn't just about performing rituals; it's about the posture of your entire being—your mind, will, and emotions—turned toward Him.
When our hearts are far from God, our 'worship' becomes hollow. It's a performance, not a communion. It’s honoring God with our lips while our thoughts are elsewhere—on our reputation, our possessions, or our own agendas.
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Understand the original words
hypokritēs · Greek Noun
Someone who plays a part or wears a mask, referring to one whose outward religious profession does not match their inward spiritual reality. In the Bible, it describes religious pretense.
timaō · Greek Verb
To show deep respect, reverence, or high esteem. When applied to God, it refers to the outward expression of esteem through worship and acknowledgment of His status.
kardia · Greek Noun
The core of the human personality, including the intellect, emotions, will, and conscience. It is the seat of moral choices and the center of a person's spiritual relationship with God.
matēn · Greek Adverb
Empty, useless, or without purpose. In a religious context, it refers to acts of worship that lack genuine spiritual substance or acceptance by God because they are disconnected from a sincere life.
sebomai · Greek Verb
The act of showing reverence, adoration, or service toward God. True biblical worship is not merely ritualistic but involves the total yielding of oneself to God in accordance with His revealed truth.
didaskalia · Greek Noun
A body of teachings or instructions. Biblically, these should be rooted in the revelation of God; when they stem from human authority, they often contradict divine intent.
entolē · Greek Noun
A divine directive or mandate given by God. It is an authoritative requirement that carries the weight of God's character and authority over His people.
paradosis · Greek Noun
An authoritative instruction or body of custom handed down, often through oral history. When placed above God's word, it becomes a tool for human legalism rather than spiritual devotion.
atheteō · Greek Verb
To treat as having no value, to set aside, or to nullify. It implies an active turning away from or disregard for an obligation or authority.
Jesus' words echo Isaiah's ancient critique, highlighting a timeless struggle against hypocrisy where outward religious acts mask an inner detachment from God, a tension amplified by the complex religious and political climate of Roman Judea.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Prophecy in Jerusalem
The prophet Isaiah delivers a scathing prophecy against the people of Judah, denouncing their outward show of religious observance while their hearts remain distant from God.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem and destroy the Temple, marking a catastrophic end to Judah's independence and a period of exile for its people.
c. 167-164 BC
Maccabean Revolt
A Jewish revolt against the Seleucid Empire, sparked by religious persecution and the imposition of Hellenistic practices, leading to a period of religious and political upheaval.
c. 63 BC
Roman Conquest of Judea
Rome gains control of Judea, establishing a period of Roman rule and influence that profoundly shapes the political and social landscape.
c. AD 20-30
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching and healing throughout Galilee and Judea, drawing large crowds and challenging religious authorities.
c. AD 28— this verse
Encounter with Scribes and Pharisees
Jesus is confronted by scribes and Pharisees, who have traveled from Jerusalem and question his disciples' disregard for their purification traditions.
This is the direct source passage that Jesus quotes, showing the long-standing nature of this issue of outward religious practice disconnected from an inner devotion to God.
Matthew 15:7-9Matthew presents a parallel account where Jesus also uses this same prophecy from Isaiah to confront the Pharisees' hypocrisy regarding their traditions overriding God's commands.
Jeremiah 12:2This passage echoes a similar lament about those who are outwardly religious but inwardly corrupt, highlighting the consistent theme in Scripture of God's focus on the heart's true allegiance.
Psalm 51:16-17In contrast to lip service, this Psalm reveals David's understanding that true worship God desires is a broken and contrite spirit, not mere external rituals or offerings.
Luke 11:39-44Here, Jesus pronounces woes on the Pharisees and lawyers, calling them 'foolish' and 'unloving,' directly addressing their obsession with outward purity while neglecting justice and love, much like the issue of honoring God with lips but not the heart.
pooleMark 7:6: "He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me."
See Poole on "Mark 7:6"
bengelMark 7:6: "He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me."
Mark 7:6 . Ὑποκριτῶν , hypocrites ) Indeed, we may derive from this passage a definition of hypocrisy . These Pharisees were a sample of hypocrites in general.
Jesus doesn't just quote Isaiah; he uses the prophet's words to label the Pharisees as "hypocrites," revealing that their outward observance of traditions was a performance masking a deep disconnect from God's heart. The word "well" here carries a biting irony, underscoring that Isaiah's ancient prophecy perfectly described their deceptive spiritual state.
Jesus is directly confronting a delegation of Pharisees and scribes who have traveled from Jerusalem to question his disciples about their failure to follow ancient traditions of ritual handwashing. They've challenged Jesus on this, and he turns their accusation back on them, exposing the hypocrisy of their outward religious practices by quoting the prophet Isaiah.
Jesus is directly confronting a delegation of Pharisees and scribes who have traveled from Jerusalem to question his disciples about their failure to follow ancient traditions of ritual handwashing. They've challenged Jesus on this, and he turns their accusation back on them, exposing the hypocrisy of their outward religious practices by quoting the prophet Isaiah.
"And he 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; in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the command…" — Jesus doesn't just quote Isaiah; he uses the prophet's words to label the Pharisees as "hypocrites," revealing that their outward observance of traditions was a performance masking a deep disconnect…
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Last reviewed October 2026