Matthew 15:7-9
You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘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.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus doesn't just quote Isaiah; He declares that Isaiah's prophecy is perfectly fulfilled in these religious leaders. This highlights that hypocrisy isn't a new problem, but a recurring pattern of people outwardly honoring God while their hearts are completely detached from Him.
Jesus is being challenged by scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem about his disciples not following their traditions regarding ritual handwashing. He turns the accusation back on them, exposing how their own man-made traditions cause them to violate God's commands, particularly regarding honoring parents. Jesus then quotes Isaiah to label them as hypocrites whose outward religious practices don't match their inner devotion.
Ever felt like you're going through the motions, but your heart isn't in it? Jesus calls out a group whose outward actions didn't match their inner reality.
Jesus confronts the scribes and Pharisees directly in Matthew 15:7, calling them 'hypocrites.' This isn't just a casual insult; it's a profound accusation. They were meticulously following human traditions, like the specific ways to wash hands before eating, while neglecting the weightier commands of God, such as honoring their parents.
What is Hypocrisy?
Hypocrisy, at its core, is presenting a false outward appearance of piety or virtue that doesn't align with one's true inner state or actions. These religious leaders were experts at the 'rules' of worship – the external rituals – but their hearts were far from God. Their devotion was performative, not genuine.
Why did Jesus get so upset about washing hands? It wasn't about cleanliness; it was about what truly matters to God.
The core of Jesus' argument with the scribes and Pharisees was their elevation of human traditions over God's direct commands. They had developed an elaborate system of rules – like the specific washings of cups and pots mentioned in the commentaries – which they held as essential for worship.
The Hierarchy of Authority
Jesus points out in Matthew 15:7-9 that their traditions had effectively 'nullified' or 'set aside' God's commandment to honor father and mother. They had created loopholes where people could dedicate money to God (a 'Corban') in a way that prevented them from helping their parents, claiming this fulfilled their obligation.
This shows a dangerous trend:
Understand the original words
hupokrites · Greek Noun
Originally a term for a stage actor, it refers to a person who acts out a part or wears a mask, signifying someone whose outward religious display contradicts their true inner spiritual state.
kardia · Greek Noun
The center of the human personality, including the intellect, will, emotions, and moral consciousness. It is the seat of true allegiance and the source from which real devotion to God must flow.
sebomai · Greek Verb
To render service to God through reverence, prayer, or ritual. True worship is acceptable to God only when it proceeds from a sincere spirit and is directed by His truth, rather than mere outward formality.
maten · Greek Adverb
Jesus directly applies Isaiah's ancient prophecy to the religious leaders of his day, highlighting a recurring pattern of human traditions overshadowing genuine devotion to God throughout Israel's history.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Prophecy
Isaiah prophesies against Israel's religious leaders who honor God with their lips but whose hearts are far from Him, teaching human traditions as divine commands.
c. 1st century BC - 1st century AD
Development of Oral Law
Jewish scribes and Pharisees develop an extensive body of oral traditions, interpreting and adding to the written Law, often prioritizing these traditions over the Law itself.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus' Ministry
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching and healing, often challenging the established religious authorities and their traditions.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Confrontation Over Hand Washing
Jesus is confronted by scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem who question why his disciples do not follow their tradition of washing hands before eating, leading to Jesus' strong rebuke.
This is the direct source of Jesus' quotation, highlighting the long-standing issue of people outwardly honoring God while their hearts are far from Him, a core theme of the hypocrisy Jesus addresses.
Jeremiah 7:9-10This passage from Jeremiah also decries a people who steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, and offer sacrifices, all while claiming to dwell in God's presence, echoing the disconnect between outward actions and inward devotion.
1 Samuel 15:22Samuel's rebuke to King Saul about obedience being better than sacrifice directly addresses the principle Jesus is upholding: that God values true obedience over mere ritualistic acts or traditions that mask disobedience.
Romans 2:28-29Paul speaks of those who are outwardly Jews but not inwardly, whose circumcision is not of the flesh but of the spirit, mirroring Jesus' critique of the Pharisees whose outward religious practices did not reflect a true inner devotion to God.
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…
bensonMatthew 15:7: "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,"
Matthew 15:7-9 . Ye hypocrites — To substitute superstitious observances of man’s invention, in the place of obedience to God’s commands, is downright hypocrisy; it is, however, the prerogative of Him who searches the heart, and knows what is in man, to pronounce who are hypocrites. And as hypocrisy is a sin which only his eye discovers, so it is a sin which above all others he abhors. Well did Esaias prophesy of you — That…
Jesus doesn't just quote Isaiah; He declares that Isaiah's prophecy is perfectly fulfilled in these religious leaders. This highlights that hypocrisy isn't a new problem, but a recurring pattern of people outwardly honoring God while their hearts are completely detached from Him.
Jesus is being challenged by scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem about his disciples not following their traditions regarding ritual handwashing. He turns the accusation back on them, exposing how their own man-made traditions cause them to violate God's commands, particularly regarding honoring parents. Jesus then quotes Isaiah to label them as hypocrites whose outward religious practices don't match their inner devotion.
Jesus is being challenged by scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem about his disciples not following their traditions regarding ritual handwashing. He turns the accusation back on them, exposing how their own man-made traditions cause them to violate God's commands, particularly regarding honoring parents. Jesus then quotes Isaiah to label them as hypocrites whose outward religious practices don't match their inner devotion.
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Empty, futile, or without true effect. Biblically, it describes efforts or religious observances that fail to reach their intended goal because they lack the necessary spiritual reality or God's approval.
didaskalia · Greek Noun
Instruction or teaching, specifically referring to religious tenets or bodies of belief that are considered authoritative for the community.
entole · Greek Noun
Divine directives or requirements established by God for His people to obey. When these are replaced by human innovation, the relationship between God and His people is corrupted.
"You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘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.’”" — Jesus doesn't just quote Isaiah; He declares that Isaiah's prophecy is perfectly fulfilled in these religious leaders. This highlights that hypocrisy isn't a new problem, but a recurring pattern of p…
