Matthew 15:3-6
He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus doesn't just point out their hypocrisy; he brilliantly flips their accusation back on them with the word "also." He implies that while their disciples might be breaking their man-made rules, the Pharisees are actively breaking God's law by prioritizing human traditions. This shows their traditions weren't just extra rules, but actively undermined the core commands of God.
Scribes and Pharisees, arriving from Jerusalem, confront Jesus and his disciples for not following their intricate traditional rules about washing hands before eating. Jesus turns their accusation back on them, challenging why they themselves disregard God's direct commands in favor of their own man-made traditions. This sets up Jesus' argument that true worship and obedience to God are more important than ritualistic traditions that often mask a lack of sincere devotion.
The Pharisees confront Jesus about His disciples breaking a tradition. But Jesus flips the script, revealing a much deeper issue.
Jesus doesn't get bogged down defending His disciples' actions. Instead, He cuts straight to the heart of the matter: the Pharisees themselves are violating God's direct commands.
A Calculated Exchange
When the Pharisees question Jesus (Matthew 15:1-2), they're focused on a ritual – washing hands before eating. This was a tradition of the elders, a set of man-made rules layered upon God's Law.
But Jesus' response, 'Why do you also transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?' (Matthew 15:3), is powerful. He uses 'also' (καὶ) to show that while the disciples might have broken a human rule, the Pharisees are actively breaking God's law. Their tradition has become a justification for ignoring God's actual word.
How can something meant to uphold religious practice actually undermine it? Jesus shows the dangerous path of human traditions.
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The core problem Jesus identifies is that human traditions, when elevated to the same level as God's commands, can effectively nullify them.
The Case of Corban
In the verses that follow (Matthew 15:4-6), Jesus illustrates this with the example of 'Corban.' This was a vow where someone could dedicate their assets to God, essentially making them unavailable for other uses. The Pharisees had twisted this tradition so that people could claim their assets were 'Corban' to avoid supporting their parents.
This created a situation where a person could claim to be honoring God with their 'gift' (tradition) while directly disobeying God's command to honor their father and mother. The tradition, meant to enhance piety, became a loophole to disobey a foundational commandment.
Worship isn't just about outward actions; it's about the heart behind them. Jesus exposes the hypocrisy of empty ritual.
Jesus confronts the Pharisees not just on their traditions, but on the state of their hearts. Their focus on outward rituals like hand-washing masked an inward disconnect from God.
The Prophet's Rebuke
Jesus quotes Isaiah (Matthew 15:7-9): '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.'
This highlights a critical distinction: God desires genuine devotion, a heart surrendered to Him. When human traditions become the focus, and external acts replace internal sincerity, worship becomes meaningless. The Pharisees were performing religious duties, but their hearts weren't truly engaged with God's will, making their entire worship a hollow performance.
Understand the original words
entolē · Greek Noun
A divinely ordained decree or rule given by God for the regulation of human conduct and relationship with Him. In Scripture, these represent God's objective moral will, which holds absolute authority over human customs.
kāḇaḏ · Hebrew Verb
To show proper respect, reverence, and value toward someone. In the context of parents, it implies practical support, care, and high esteem, reflecting one's duty to acknowledge their God-given role.
kakologeō · Greek Verb
To treat with contempt, speak evil of, or curse. It denotes a severe violation of respect and is biblically categorized as a serious offense against God’s moral order.
timao · Greek Verb
To hold in high regard, respect, or treat with the weight and value due to someone, especially parents as commanded by God. In a biblical context, it often involves practical provision and care.
paradosis · Greek Noun
A set of customs, beliefs, or teachings handed down from generation to generation. In this context, it refers to human-invented regulations that were elevated to divine status, often superseding God’s commands.
akuroo · Greek Verb
To render inoperative, abolish, or nullify the effectiveness of something. It implies treating the divine authority of God’s Word as if it no longer holds binding power.
logos tou Theou · Greek Noun
The direct revelation, authoritative communication, or declared will of God to humanity. It is considered infallible and superior to any human reasoning or institutional decree.
This verse highlights a critical moment where Jesus directly confronts the religious establishment of his day. The 'traditions of the elders' had become so entrenched that they were elevated above God's own commandments, a problem rooted in centuries of developing Jewish law and interpretation.
c. 450 BC
Ezra's Reforms
Following the Babylonian exile, Ezra leads reforms emphasizing strict adherence to the Law of Moses, contributing to the development of oral traditions that would later become codified.
c. 150 BC - AD 70
Development of Rabbinic Tradition
The period sees the formalization and expansion of oral laws and interpretations by scribes and Pharisees, creating a body of 'traditions of the elders' alongside the written Torah.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Jesus begins teaching and healing, attracting followers and drawing the attention of religious authorities like the Pharisees and scribes.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus Confronts Scribes and Pharisees
Jesus engages in public debates with religious leaders, challenging their interpretations of the Law and their emphasis on human traditions over divine commands, as seen in this encounter.
This passage warns against adding to or subtracting from God's commands, directly paralleling Jesus' accusation that the Pharisees' traditions nullified God's law.
1 Samuel 15:22Samuel's rebuke, 'to obey is better than sacrifice,' echoes Jesus' point that God values obedience to His commands over the elaborate human traditions and rituals the Pharisees prized.
Isaiah 29:13Jesus quotes this prophet to show that the Pharisees' outward show of devotion without a true heart connection is exactly what God had condemned centuries before.
Colossians 2:20-23Paul's warning against human regulations and 'will-worship' reflects the core of Jesus' critique: that traditions can appear wise but lack true spiritual value and usurp God's authority.
Matthew 23:23In another confrontation, Jesus again condemns the Pharisees for meticulously tithing mint and dill while neglecting 'the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness,' highlighting the same theme of misplaced priorities.
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…
barnesMatthew 15:3: "But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?"
But he answered ... - They accused him of violating their traditions, as though they were obligatory. In his answer he implied that his disciples were not bound to obey their traditions - they were invented by human beings. He said, also, that those traditions could not be binding, as they violated the commandments of God. He proceeded to specify a case in which their traditio…
Jesus doesn't just point out their hypocrisy; he brilliantly flips their accusation back on them with the word "also." He implies that while their disciples might be breaking their man-made rules, the Pharisees are actively breaking God's law by prioritizing human traditions. This shows their traditions weren't just extra rules, but actively undermined the core commands of God.
Scribes and Pharisees, arriving from Jerusalem, confront Jesus and his disciples for not following their intricate traditional rules about washing hands before eating. Jesus turns their accusation back on them, challenging why they themselves disregard God's direct commands in favor of their own man-made traditions. This sets up Jesus' argument that true worship and obedience to God are more important than ritualistic traditions that often mask a lack of sincere devotion.
Scribes and Pharisees, arriving from Jerusalem, confront Jesus and his disciples for not following their intricate traditional rules about washing hands before eating. Jesus turns their accusation back on them, challenging why they themselves disregard God's direct commands in favor of their own man-made traditions. This sets up Jesus' argument that true worship and obedience to God are more important than ritualistic traditions that often mask a lack of sincere devotion.
"He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If anyone tells h…" — Jesus doesn't just point out their hypocrisy; he brilliantly flips their accusation back on them with the word "also." He implies that while their disciples might be breaking their man-made rules,…
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