Matthew 15:1
Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Matthew 15:1
Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
These religious leaders traveled all the way from Jerusalem, not to seek Jesus out of genuine curiosity, but to challenge Him, bringing their established authority and tradition to bear on His ministry. Their specific complaint—that His disciples weren't washing their hands—was a "trivial" matter, but it served as their opening salvo to question Jesus's allegiance to the established religious order.
A delegation of religious authorities, including scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem, approaches Jesus with a challenge regarding his disciples' practices, specifically their failure to observe the elders' traditions of ritual handwashing before eating. This confrontation sets the stage for Jesus to expose the hypocrisy of those who prioritize human traditions over God's commandments, leading to a deeper discourse on what truly defiles a person.
Why did the Pharisees and scribes travel all the way from Jerusalem to question Jesus? It wasn't just a casual visit; it was a direct challenge to His authority.
The arrival of scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem signals a significant escalation in the opposition Jesus faced. These weren't local Galilean leaders, but esteemed religious authorities from the very heart of Jewish religious life.
A Formal Challenge
Their journey signifies that Jesus's influence had reached the religious capital, prompting a formal inquiry. They came not to learn, but to challenge His disciples' practices, which they saw as a direct affront to their established traditions. This sets the stage for Jesus to confront the very foundation of their religious authority.
The core of the conflict wasn't about cleanliness, but about where true religious authority lay. Jesus quickly pivots from their complaint to a far more serious charge.
The Pharisees and scribes were upset because Jesus's disciples weren't following the 'tradition of the elders,' specifically regarding ritual handwashing before eating. However, Jesus immediately exposes the hypocrisy in their accusation.
The Real Issue
Jesus reveals that their traditions often led them to disobey God's direct commands. He uses the example of honoring parents, where their traditions allowed people to shirk their responsibilities by claiming their resources were 'Corban' (dedicated to God), effectively nullifying their duty to their parents. This highlights Jesus's radical stance: God's clear commands always trump human traditions, no matter how revered.
Jesus quotes Isaiah to reveal the superficiality of the Pharisees' worship and the true nature of devotion God desires.
The scribes and Pharisees presented a facade of piety, meticulously following rituals like handwashing. But Jesus exposes their inner state, quoting Isaiah 29:13 to show that their worship was a hollow performance.
Understand the original words
Pharisaioi · Greek Noun
A religious and political party in first-century Judaism known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and the oral traditions. They were often in conflict with Jesus due to their legalism and focus on outward purity over internal righteousness.
grammateis · Greek Noun
Scholars, teachers, and interpreters of the Mosaic Law. Their role was to study, teach, and apply the Scriptures to daily life, often working alongside the Pharisees.
This encounter with religious leaders from Jerusalem highlights a growing tension between Jesus' ministry and the established religious authorities, setting the stage for escalating conflict.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Galilean Ministry
Jesus begins His public ministry in Galilee, performing miracles and teaching about the Kingdom of God. His fame grows significantly during this period.
c. AD 29
John the Baptist Imprisoned and Executed
John the Baptist is imprisoned and later executed by Herod Antipas. This event marks a significant crisis and influences Jesus' movements.
c. AD 29
Feeding of the Five Thousand
Jesus miraculously feeds over five thousand men with a few loaves and fish, a sign that prompts many to seek to make Him king.
c. AD 29
Jesus Walks on Water
Jesus calms a storm and walks on water to reach His disciples, demonstrating His authority over nature.
c. AD 29— this verse
This passage mirrors Matthew 15:1, describing the same encounter where the scribes and Pharisees question Jesus' disciples about their traditions, providing a fuller account of the context.
Isaiah 29:13Jesus quotes this prophecy directly in Matthew 15:8-9, showing that the hypocrisy and outward religious observance without inward devotion that the scribes and Pharisees displayed was foretold by Isaiah.
Matthew 23:1-7This passage shows Jesus denouncing the scribes and Pharisees for their love of public honor and their hypocritical practices, highlighting the ongoing conflict Jesus had with their religious establishment.
Luke 11:37-44Similar to the conflict in Matthew 15, this passage records Jesus' strong condemnation of the Pharisees for their outward show of righteousness while inwardly being corrupt, emphasizing the theme of true devotion versus tradition.
vincentMatthew 15:1: "Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,"
Transgress (παραβαίνουσιν)Lit., to step on one side.
barnesMatthew 15:1: "Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,"
See also Mark 7:1-9 . Then came to Jesus ... - Mark says that they saw the disciples of Jesus eating with unwashed hands.
These religious leaders traveled all the way from Jerusalem, not to seek Jesus out of genuine curiosity, but to challenge Him, bringing their established authority and tradition to bear on His ministry. Their specific complaint—that His disciples weren't washing their hands—was a "trivial" matter, but it served as their opening salvo to question Jesus's allegiance to the established religious order.
A delegation of religious authorities, including scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem, approaches Jesus with a challenge regarding his disciples' practices, specifically their failure to observe the elders' traditions of ritual handwashing before eating. This confrontation sets the stage for Jesus to expose the hypocrisy of those who prioritize human traditions over God's commandments, leading to a deeper discourse on what truly defiles a person.
A delegation of religious authorities, including scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem, approaches Jesus with a challenge regarding his disciples' practices, specifically their failure to observe the elders' traditions of ritual handwashing before eating. This confrontation sets the stage for Jesus to expose the hypocrisy of those who prioritize human traditions over God's commandments, leading to a deeper discourse on what truly defiles a person.
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The True Measure of Worship
God looks at the heart. He desires genuine devotion, not just outward actions. The Pharisees honored God with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him. Jesus condemns 'worship by human command,' emphasizing that true worship is rooted in obedience to God's Word and a sincere, inner commitment, not in adding human rules to divine ones.
Delegation Arrives from Jerusalem
Pharisees and scribes, sent from the religious authorities in Jerusalem, confront Jesus in Galilee regarding His disciples' practice of ritual handwashing.
c. AD 29
Jesus Withdraws North
Following the confrontation, Jesus withdraws to the Gentile regions of Tyre and Sidon, seeking a period of respite.
c. AD 29
Healing the Syrophoenician Woman's Daughter
Jesus encounters a Gentile woman and, after testing her faith, heals her daughter, demonstrating His compassion extends beyond Israel.
"Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said," — These religious leaders traveled all the way from Jerusalem, not to seek Jesus out of genuine curiosity, but to challenge Him, bringing their established authority and tradition to bear on His minist…