Matthew 15:1 kjv
Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
Matthew 15:1 nkjv
Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying,
Matthew 15:1 niv
Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked,
Matthew 15:1 esv
Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,
Matthew 15:1 nlt
Some Pharisees and teachers of religious law now arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. They asked him,
Matthew 15 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 5:20 | "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees..." | Jesus challenges external righteousness. |
| Mk 7:1-5 | "The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem..." | Parallel account, focusing on handwashing tradition. |
| Isa 29:13 | "These people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but..." | Prophecy on hypocrisy, honoring traditions over God's commands. |
| Jer 9:23-24 | "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom... but let him who boasts boast of this..." | True boasting in knowing God, not human accomplishments. |
| Rom 10:2-3 | "For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge." | Zeal without proper understanding of God's righteousness. |
| Lk 5:17 | "...Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every..." | Leaders gathering to scrutinize Jesus. |
| Jn 1:19 | "This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem..." | Jerusalem authorities sending representatives. |
| Acts 23:6 | "Then Paul, perceiving that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, cried..." | Pharisees as a significant faction within Judaism. |
| Gal 1:13-14 | "...how I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my equals among my own people, being..." | Paul's pre-conversion devotion to Pharisaic tradition. |
| Phil 3:4-6 | "...circumcised on the eighth day... a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church..." | Paul's background as a devout Pharisee. |
| Mt 12:1-2 | "At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath... the Pharisees said..." | Initial conflict with Pharisees over Sabbath rules. |
| Lk 6:7 | "So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him, whether He would heal on the Sabbath..." | Constant scrutiny by religious leaders. |
| Mt 23:1-3 | "Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: 'The scribes and..." | Jesus' warning about the hypocrisy of scribes and Pharisees. |
| Mk 2:6-7 | "But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts..." | Religious leaders questioning Jesus' authority. |
| Jn 5:18 | "Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath..." | The escalating opposition leading to death threats. |
| Heb 8:13 | "In that He says, 'A new covenant,' He has made the first obsolete. Now what is..." | The Old Covenant, with its emphasis on external laws, superseded. |
| Mk 7:6-8 | "He answered and said to them: 'Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites...'" | Jesus directly accuses them of hypocrisy and valuing tradition. |
| Col 2:20-23 | "If you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living..." | Warning against man-made regulations and asceticism. |
| Titus 1:14 | "not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth." | Rejecting human-made rules that divert from truth. |
| 1 Pet 1:18 | "...redeemed... from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers..." | Deliverance from inherited, meaningless traditions. |
| Mt 9:11 | "When the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, 'Why does your Teacher eat...'" | Conflict over Jesus' associates and practices. |
| Lk 11:37-41 | "When He had spoken, a Pharisee asked Him to dine with him... 'Now you Pharisees make..." | Jesus rebukes their focus on external cleanness. |
| Acts 15:1 | "And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, 'Unless you are..." | Ongoing struggle within early church regarding law/tradition. |
Matthew 15 verses
Matthew 15 1 Meaning
Matthew 15:1 introduces a direct confrontation between Jesus and the influential Jewish religious leaders, the Pharisees and scribes. These figures, coming from the religious heartland of Jerusalem, approach Jesus with an accusation, setting the stage for a critical discourse on the nature of religious authority, tradition, and true spiritual observance. This verse highlights the escalating tension between Jesus' teachings and the established interpretations of the Law.
Matthew 15 1 Context
Matthew 15:1 appears shortly after two major demonstrations of Jesus' power: the feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21) and walking on water (Matthew 14:22-33), which followed the beheading of John the Baptist (Matthew 14:1-12). These events cemented Jesus' messianic identity and growing influence among the common people, further drawing the attention and antagonism of the religious authorities. The previous chapters have consistently shown the Pharisees and scribes questioning Jesus' actions (e.g., healing on the Sabbath, associating with sinners). This particular encounter initiates a deeper theological dispute concerning the weight and validity of oral tradition versus the written Law of God, highlighting the hypocrisy of outwardly pious leaders whose hearts were far from God. It also shifts the narrative geographically to the vicinity of Gennesaret (Matthew 14:34), but the leaders come from Jerusalem, indicating their authority and specific mission to challenge Jesus.
Matthew 15 1 Word analysis
- Then (τότε - tote): This adverb functions as a transition, linking the present confrontation to the previous events. It signals a shift from Jesus' miracles and growing popular acclaim to renewed opposition from the religious establishment. It implies an opportune or pivotal moment in the escalating conflict.
- Pharisees (Φαρισαῖοι - Pharisaios): Literally "separated ones." They were a highly influential and strict Jewish religious group known for their meticulous observance of the written Torah and an extensive body of oral traditions (halakha). Their focus was on purity, ritual washing, tithing, and Sabbath observance, seeking to extend priestly holiness to everyday life. They often clashed with Jesus over matters of the Law and His authority.
- and scribes (καὶ γραμματεῖς - kai grammateis): Scribes were learned scholars and professional interpreters of the Jewish Law, often associated with the Pharisees, though not exclusively. They were the legal experts and custodians of Jewish tradition, responsible for teaching and preserving the Law. Their presence alongside the Pharisees signifies an official delegation from the religious establishment.
- came (προσέρχονται - proserchontai): This verb suggests a purposeful approach, indicating that their coming was not coincidental but an intentional act of seeking out Jesus for confrontation or inquiry. The present tense form (though translated as past) can imply a sense of immediacy or ongoing action in the narrative.
- to Jesus (τῷ Ἰησοῦ - tō Iēsou): Highlights Jesus as the specific target of their scrutiny and challenge. He is the central figure of controversy around whom their issues revolve.
- from Jerusalem (ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων - apo Hierosolymōn): This detail is highly significant. Jerusalem was the spiritual, religious, and administrative center of Judaism, housing the Temple and the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish court. The fact that these religious leaders came from Jerusalem means they were likely official delegates, acting on behalf of the established religious authority, lending weight to their upcoming challenge to Jesus' practices and teachings. Their coming from Jerusalem suggests a level of concern that necessitated an official delegation to investigate or confront Jesus.
- saying (λέγοντες - legontes): Introduces their direct accusation or question, setting the stage for the substance of the conflict in the subsequent verses. It marks the initiation of the verbal challenge.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Then Pharisees and scribes": This phrase immediately identifies the key antagonists. The temporal marker "then" indicates that this opposition is a recurring theme, often intensified after Jesus' public displays of power. The combined presence of "Pharisees and scribes" represents the full weight of the traditional religious establishment confronting Jesus.
- "came to Jesus from Jerusalem": This precise geographical and directional detail underscores the formal and authoritative nature of their challenge. It suggests that Jesus' ministry has gained enough prominence to warrant an official delegation from the religious epicenter. Their journey implies pre-meditated intent to scrutinize, challenge, or even condemn Jesus' activities, indicating the seriousness of the situation. Their origin in Jerusalem also implies that their challenge carries the backing of the prevailing religious authorities and legalistic interpretation of the Law.
Matthew 15 1 Bonus section
The term "tradition of the elders" (which will be fully articulated in subsequent verses but is implicitly at play here) refers to the Oral Torah, believed by the Pharisees to be handed down from Moses alongside the written Law. This body of rulings, interpretations, and practices was given equal or even superior authority by them, shaping their daily life and understanding of piety. Jesus' confrontations with the Pharisees and scribes often revolved around this precise conflict: whether human-derived traditions, even those well-intentioned or aimed at safeguarding the Law, should supersede or nullify God's direct commandments. The Sanhedrin, located in Jerusalem, was the ultimate arbiter of these traditions, further explaining why representatives from Jerusalem were chosen for this significant confrontation. This highlights the core tension in Judaism at the time between strict traditionalism and Jesus' radical, kingdom-focused interpretation of God's will.
Matthew 15 1 Commentary
Matthew 15:1 sets the stage for one of Jesus' pivotal clashes with the religious elite, shifting the focus from His miraculous power to the foundational principles of His teaching concerning true righteousness. The arrival of the Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem signifies the highest level of official scrutiny and antagonism. Their approach is not one of inquiry but of challenge, immediately presenting their legalistic concerns. This confrontation initiates a discourse where Jesus consistently exposes their external religiosity and self-righteousness, highlighting their tradition of men which nullified the command of God (as elaborated in subsequent verses). The verse itself is merely the introduction to a deeper conflict over authority, interpretation of scripture, and the very nature of true worship—a tension between external ritual and internal transformation. This sets a timeless precedent about evaluating religious practice not by its conformity to human-made rules, but by its alignment with God's heart and revealed word.