Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
Parallel translations
- WEB Then the disciples came, and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying?”
- BSB Then the disciples came to Him and said, “Are You aware that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
- NKJV Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
- NASB Then the disciples came and *said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?”
- NLT Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you realize you offended the Pharisees by what you just said?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The disciples report that the Pharisees were offended by Jesus' teaching. It matters because it shows that faithful truth can offend even respected religious authorities.
Overview
The disciples, perhaps unsettled, point out that Jesus' words have scandalized the influential Pharisees. Their concern reveals how much weight these leaders carried in popular opinion. Jesus' response (in the next verses) shows he is unmoved by their offense when truth is at stake. The episode reminds disciples that fidelity to God's word will sometimes provoke those committed to human tradition.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 1 Kgs 22:13–14And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.
- 1 Cor 10:32–33Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
- 2 Cor 6:3Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
- Gal 2:5To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
- Matt 17:27Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
- Jas 3:17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 15:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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