But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
Parallel translations
- WEB He answered them, “Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition?
- BSB Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?
- NKJV He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?
- NASB And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves also break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
- NLT Jesus replied, “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God?
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
Jesus turns the Pharisees' criticism back on them, charging that their man-made traditions actually lead them to break God's commandments. It matters because it exposes the danger of elevating human rules above God's word.
Overview
The Pharisees had accused Jesus' disciples of breaking the tradition of the elders by not ceremonially washing their hands. Jesus answers their challenge with a sharper counter-charge: their traditions cause them to transgress the actual commandments of God. He establishes a principle that runs through this whole passage—Scripture, not human custom, is the final authority. Christ himself perfectly honored the Father's commandments where the religious leaders failed.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Col 2:23Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
- Titus 1:14Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
- Mark 7:6–8He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
- Col 2:8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
- Mark 7:13Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
- Matt 7:3–5And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
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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 15:3 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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