“Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Pharisees aren't just upset about dirty hands; they're accusing Jesus' disciples of breaking a specific, man-made religious rule that they believed was equal to God's law. This highlights how they prioritized their own human traditions over the actual commandments of God.
“Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Some religious leaders, scribes and Pharisees who had traveled from Jerusalem, confront Jesus and his disciples. They accuse the disciples of breaking an important oral law, a "tradition of the elders," because they eat without performing a ritual washing of their hands. This highlights the intense focus on external religious practices by some Jewish authorities, setting the stage for Jesus to contrast their traditions with God's actual commands.
Jesus' disciples are challenged for not following a specific practice. What exactly was this "tradition," and why was it so important to the Pharisees?
When the scribes and Pharisees confronted Jesus, they pointed to the disciples' failure to wash their hands before eating. This wasn't just about hygiene; it was about the 'tradition of the elders.'
What was this tradition?
Why the Confrontation?
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Jesus immediately turns the tables, revealing that the real issue isn't unwashed hands, but something far deeper. What's the crucial difference he points out?
Jesus' response cuts to the heart of the matter: the Pharisees were obsessed with outward appearances while neglecting the inner life.
The Core Conflict:
The Deeper Problem:
Understand the original words
paradosis · Greek Noun
Refers to the body of oral laws, interpretations, and practices developed by Jewish religious authorities over generations, considered by them to be authoritative alongside the written Torah. Jesus frequently challenged these when they undermined God's word.
c. 450 BC - 175 BC
Development of Oral Law
Following the Babylonian Exile, Jewish leaders began to develop an 'Oral Law' alongside the written Mosaic Law. This tradition, passed down through generations of 'elders' (religious leaders and scribes), aimed to interpret and apply the written law to daily life.
c. 175 BC - 63 BC
Hellenistic Influence and Sectarianism
Increased contact with Greek culture led to both resistance and adaptation within Judaism. Religious parties like the Pharisees emerged, emphasizing strict adherence to both written and oral laws, including intricate purity rituals.
63 BC
Roman Conquest of Judea
Rome conquered Judea, leading to a complex political landscape where Jewish religious leaders often wielded significant social influence, even under Roman rule. The Pharisees gained prominence.
c. 20 BC - AD 30— this verse
Height of Pharisaic Tradition Enforcement
During this period, the Pharisees and scribes, particularly those based in Jerusalem, fiercely upheld their meticulously developed traditions. They viewed adherence to these oral laws as essential for faithfulness to God, often prioritizing them over the spirit of the written law.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Ministry and Disputes
Jesus traversed Galilee and Judea, teaching and performing miracles. His disciples, not adhering to the strict Pharisaic washing rituals before meals, became a point of contention with religious authorities.
This passage warns against human philosophies and traditions that, while appearing wise, lead people away from Christ's true teachings, mirroring the Pharisees' focus on external traditions over genuine obedience.
Isaiah 29:13Jesus directly quotes this prophecy to the Pharisees, showing that their outward show of devotion and human commandments were precisely what God condemned long before, highlighting the hypocrisy Jesus addressed.
1 Samuel 15:22This verse emphasizes that obedience to God is far more valuable than sacrifices or rituals, directly countering the Pharisees' elevation of their traditions above God's clear commands.
Mark 7:6-7This passage from Mark's Gospel provides a fuller context, quoting Isaiah and directly stating that the Pharisees honored God with their lips but their hearts were far from Him, a core issue Jesus exposes in Matthew 15.
Romans 14:1-4This passage deals with differences in practice among believers regarding food and observance days, teaching that we should not judge others based on their adherence to certain traditions, a principle relevant to Jesus' critique of the Pharisees' judgmentalism.
vincentMatthew 15:2: "Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread."
Wash not their handsWashing before meals was alone regarded as a commandment; washing after meals only as a duty. By and by the more rigorous actually washed between the courses, although this was declared to be purely voluntary. The distinctive designation for washing after meals was the lifting of the hands; while for washing before meat a term was used which meant,…
calvinMatthew 15:1-9: "Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,"
- Then scribes and Pharisees, who had come from Jerusalem, approach to Jesus, saying, 2. Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3. But he answering said to them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God on account of [390] your tradition? 4. For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother; and, He that curseth fath…
The Pharisees aren't just upset about dirty hands; they're accusing Jesus' disciples of breaking a specific, man-made religious rule that they believed was equal to God's law. This highlights how they prioritized their own human traditions over the actual commandments of God.
Some religious leaders, scribes and Pharisees who had traveled from Jerusalem, confront Jesus and his disciples. They accuse the disciples of breaking an important oral law, a "tradition of the elders," because they eat without performing a ritual washing of their hands. This highlights the intense focus on external religious practices by some Jewish authorities, setting the stage for Jesus to contrast their traditions with God's actual commands.
Some religious leaders, scribes and Pharisees who had traveled from Jerusalem, confront Jesus and his disciples. They accuse the disciples of breaking an important oral law, a "tradition of the elders," because they eat without performing a ritual washing of their hands. This highlights the intense focus on external religious practices by some Jewish authorities, setting the stage for Jesus to contrast their traditions with God's actual commands.
"“Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.”" — The Pharisees aren't just upset about dirty hands; they're accusing Jesus' disciples of breaking a specific, man-made religious rule that they believed was equal to God's law. This highlights how the…
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Last reviewed October 2026