You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The real shock here isn't just that they’re adding human traditions, but that they're actively setting aside God's commands to make room for them. It’s a subtle but critical distinction: their traditions aren't just extra rules; they're replacing God's own authority.
You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is confronting the Pharisees and scribes, who have accused his disciples of not following their traditions regarding ritual handwashing. He challenges their focus on human rules, highlighting how these traditions often override God's clear commands. This exchange sets the stage for Jesus to expose their hypocrisy, arguing that their outward practices mask a deeper spiritual emptiness.
Ever felt like you're following the 'rules,' but something still feels off? Jesus called out religious leaders who did just that.
Jesus confronts the Pharisees and scribes for their hypocrisy. They meticulously follow human traditions – like ritual handwashing before eating – while neglecting God's clear commands. This isn't just about hygiene; it's about a misplaced loyalty. They elevated their own rules, passed down through generations, above the very word of God. This meant that when their traditions conflicted with God's law, the human rule won out. It’s a stark reminder that outward religious practices are hollow if they displace obedience to God’s heart.
The Danger of 'The Tradition of Men'
Jesus pointed out a serious disconnect: people honoring God with their words, but not their hearts.
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The issue wasn't just what the Pharisees did, but why. Jesus quotes Isaiah, saying, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.' (Mark 7:6). Their adherence to traditions was a performance, a way to appear religious without genuine inner devotion. They were experts at outward show but lacked the sincere obedience God truly seeks.
The Core of True Worship
Understand the original words
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.
This verse highlights a critical tension in Jewish life during Jesus' time: the clash between the authoritative commands of God found in Scripture and the man-made traditions that had grown around them, often overshadowing the divine intent.
c. 538 BC
Return from Babylonian Exile
Jews return from Babylonian exile and begin rebuilding the Temple and their religious practices. This period sees the increasing importance of oral traditions and interpretations of the Law.
c. 150 BC - AD 70
Development of Rabbinic Traditions
The Pharisaic movement gains prominence, emphasizing the 'oral law' and traditions of the elders as equally authoritative with the written Law. These traditions become codified over time, forming the basis of the Mishnah.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching and healing. His radical interpretations of the Law and his interactions with religious authorities often highlight the conflict between God's commands and human traditions.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Confrontations with Religious Leaders
Jesus engages in frequent disputes with the Pharisees and scribes, particularly concerning Sabbath observance, purity laws, and the interpretation of scripture. These encounters lead to his eventual condemnation.
AD 70
Destruction of the Second Temple
The Roman destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem marks a pivotal moment, leading to the further codification of rabbinic Judaism and the emphasis on oral law as central to Jewish practice.
This passage from Matthew directly parallels Mark's account, showing Jesus' consistent teaching that human traditions can indeed override or nullify God's commands.
Colossians 2:8Paul warns against philosophies and traditions of men that do not align with Christ, echoing Jesus' condemnation of the Pharisees' focus on human rules over divine law.
Isaiah 29:13Jesus quotes this prophecy to the Pharisees, highlighting that their outward religious observance, while seemingly honoring God, was a vain worship because their hearts were far from Him and they taught human commands.
Galatians 1:14Paul speaks of his own former zeal for the traditions of his fathers, illustrating the strong hold and potential for error that human traditions can have, even among those devoutly following them.
1 Samuel 15:22This Old Testament passage shows that obedience to God's commands is far more valuable than sacrifice or outward ritual, a principle Jesus underscores when confronting the Pharisees' misplaced priorities.
pooleMark 7:8: "For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do."
See Poole on "Mark 7:1"
barnesMark 7:8: "For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do."
Laying aside - Rejecting, or making, it give place to traditions; considering the traditions as superior in authority to the divine law. This was the uniform doctrine of the Pharisees. See the notes at Matthew 15:1-9 . The tradition of men - What has been handed down by human beings, or what rests solely on their authority.
The real shock here isn't just that they’re adding human traditions, but that they're actively setting aside God's commands to make room for them. It’s a subtle but critical distinction: their traditions aren't just extra rules; they're replacing God's own authority.
Jesus is confronting the Pharisees and scribes, who have accused his disciples of not following their traditions regarding ritual handwashing. He challenges their focus on human rules, highlighting how these traditions often override God's clear commands. This exchange sets the stage for Jesus to expose their hypocrisy, arguing that their outward practices mask a deeper spiritual emptiness.
Jesus is confronting the Pharisees and scribes, who have accused his disciples of not following their traditions regarding ritual handwashing. He challenges their focus on human rules, highlighting how these traditions often override God's clear commands. This exchange sets the stage for Jesus to expose their hypocrisy, arguing that their outward practices mask a deeper spiritual emptiness.
"You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”" — The real shock here isn't just that they’re adding human traditions, but that they're actively setting aside God's commands to make room for them. It’s a subtle but critical distinction: their tr…
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Last reviewed October 2026