Matthew 15:8-9
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Jesus points out that their outward actions – drawing near with their mouths and honoring with their lips – are a stark contrast to their inner reality. The word translated "far from" actually means to "hold off" or "keep at a distance," highlighting a deliberate separation of their hearts from God, not just a passive absence.
“‘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)
Jesus is responding to a challenge from the scribes and Pharisees about his disciples not following their man-made traditions for ceremonial washing. He counters by pointing out how their traditions often violate God's clear commands, specifically regarding honoring parents. To illustrate their hypocrisy, Jesus quotes Isaiah, showing how their outward religious practices are a hollow performance, devoid of genuine devotion.
Ever feel like you're going through the motions in your faith? Jesus confronts people who were doing just that.
Going Through the Motions
Jesus quotes Isaiah here, calling out a deep problem: people were outwardly performing religious duties but their inner selves were miles away from God. Think about it: they were present for worship, they were saying the right words, maybe even performing sacrifices or adhering to traditions. But their hearts weren't in it.
Why is this so bad?
What does it truly mean to 'honor' God? It’s not just about the outward show.
The Heart of the Matter
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The core issue Jesus is addressing is the direction of people's hearts. The word for 'far' here isn't just about distance, but about being 'held off' or estranged. Their hearts weren't just absent; they were actively distant and disengaged from God.
What God Seeks:
Understand the original words
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
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.
This verse echoes a long-standing prophetic critique of religious formalism. Jesus applies Isaiah's ancient words to his contemporary situation, showing that the struggle against outward piety masking an inward distance from God is a persistent theme in Israel's history.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Prophecy
The prophet Isaiah delivers a message denouncing the religious hypocrisy of the people of Judah, whose outward worship does not reflect their inward devotion to God.
c. 586 BC
Babylonian Exile
The Kingdom of Judah is conquered by Babylon, and many of its people are exiled. This event served as a stark reminder of the consequences of spiritual unfaithfulness and a call to return to genuine worship.
c. 500 BC - 1st Century AD
Development of Rabbinic Tradition
Following the exile, Jewish leaders and scribes developed extensive oral traditions and interpretations of the Law, some of which began to be emphasized over the direct commands of God.
c. AD 25-30
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his teaching and healing ministry, often challenging the religious establishment and calling people to a deeper, heart-level faith.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus Confronts Scribes and Pharisees
Jesus directly quotes Isaiah 29:13 when confronted by scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem who challenge his disciples' practice of not washing their hands before eating, highlighting their hypocrisy.
This is the passage Jesus is directly quoting, showing the ancient roots of this spiritual disconnect between outward devotion and inner reality.
Jeremiah 12:2This verse speaks to the same issue of outward prosperity and inner wickedness, highlighting God's awareness of our hearts even when our actions seem right to the world.
Psalm 51:6This psalm expresses a deep understanding that true worship is not just external ritual but also requires truth 'in the innermost being,' a powerful contrast to the hypocrisy Jesus condemns.
Luke 11:39-40Here, Jesus directly calls the Pharisees 'fools' for focusing on outward cleansing while their insides are full of greed and wickedness, echoing the 'heart far from me' theme.
1 Samuel 16:7This verse reveals God’s perspective: He looks at the heart, not outward appearances, directly addressing why honoring God with lips alone is so insufficient and displeasing to Him.
barnesMatthew 15:8: "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me."
Draweth nigh unto me with their mouth ... - That is, they are regular in the forms of worship; they are strict in ceremonial observances, and keep the law outwardly; but God requires the heart, and that they have not rendered.
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…
Jesus points out that their outward actions – drawing near with their mouths and honoring with their lips – are a stark contrast to their inner reality. The word translated "far from" actually means to "hold off" or "keep at a distance," highlighting a deliberate separation of their hearts from God, not just a passive absence.
Jesus is responding to a challenge from the scribes and Pharisees about his disciples not following their man-made traditions for ceremonial washing. He counters by pointing out how their traditions often violate God's clear commands, specifically regarding honoring parents. To illustrate their hypocrisy, Jesus quotes Isaiah, showing how their outward religious practices are a hollow performance, devoid of genuine devotion.
Jesus is responding to a challenge from the scribes and Pharisees about his disciples not following their man-made traditions for ceremonial washing. He counters by pointing out how their traditions often violate God's clear commands, specifically regarding honoring parents. To illustrate their hypocrisy, Jesus quotes Isaiah, showing how their outward religious practices are a hollow performance, devoid of genuine devotion.
"“‘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 points out that their outward actions – drawing near with their mouths and honoring with their lips – are a stark contrast to their inner reality. The word translated "far from" actually means…
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Last reviewed October 2026
