Matthew 15:3 kjv
But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
Matthew 15:3 nkjv
He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?
Matthew 15:3 niv
Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?
Matthew 15:3 esv
He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
Matthew 15:3 nlt
Jesus replied, "And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God?
Matthew 15 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 15:1-9 | Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said... | The full context of the dispute |
| Mark 7:1-13 | The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him... | Parallel account, detailing "Corban" example |
| Deut 4:2 | You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it... | Warns against adding to or subtracting from God's word |
| Deut 12:32 | Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to it nor take from it. | Reiteration of divine command's integrity |
| Isa 29:13 | And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth...and their fear of Me is taught by the precept of men," | Criticizes outward observance based on human precepts |
| Prov 30:5-6 | Every word of God is pure...Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. | Upholds purity of God's Word, warns against alteration |
| Exod 20:12 | Honor your father and your mother... | The Fifth Commandment, directly contradicted by "Corban" |
| Matt 15:4-6 | For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’... | Jesus explicitly states the violated commandment |
| Jer 8:8 | How can you say, “We are wise, And the law of the Lord is with us”? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes Has made it into a lie. | Accuses scribes of misinterpreting/distorting the law |
| Col 2:8 | Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men... | Warns against human traditions overriding Christ |
| Gal 1:14 | And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries...being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. | Paul's former zeal for human traditions before Christ |
| 1 Pet 1:18 | Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things...but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. | Redemption frees from "futile traditions inherited from your forefathers" |
| Luke 11:37-44 | Jesus also condemned Pharisees for strict outward adherence to rules while neglecting justice and the love of God. | Condemns legalism and hypocrisy |
| Matt 23:23 | Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. | Prioritizing minor details over core divine commands |
| Acts 5:29 | But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.” | Principle of obeying God's will above human commands |
| John 14:15 | If you love Me, keep My commandments. | Love for God expressed through obedience to His commands |
| 1 Jn 5:3 | For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. | God's commandments as expression of love, not burden |
| Rom 10:2-3 | For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness... | Zeal for God misdirected by lack of knowledge, creating self-righteousness |
| Ps 119:104 | From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. | Valuing God's precepts and rejecting deviations |
| Ps 119:126 | It is time for the Lord to act, For they have disregarded Your law. | God acts when His law is disregarded |
| Titus 1:14 | Not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. | Rejects man-made fables and commandments |
| 2 Thess 2:15 | Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. | Distinguishes divine or apostolic traditions from human ones |
Matthew 15 verses
Matthew 15 3 Meaning
Jesus confronts the Pharisees and scribes, turning their accusation against His disciples back upon them. He questions why they, despite their zealous adherence to human traditions, actively disregard or violate the direct commandments of God for the sake of these very traditions. The verse highlights the core conflict between divinely revealed truth and man-made interpretations, especially when the latter undermines the former.
Matthew 15 3 Context
Matthew 15:3 is part of a larger confrontation between Jesus and religious leaders from Jerusalem (Matt 15:1-20, Mark 7:1-23). The issue begins when Pharisees and scribes question why Jesus’ disciples do not wash their hands before eating, thus violating the "tradition of the elders." This tradition was not a Mosaic law but an elaborate oral code developed over centuries by rabbinic authorities. In response, Jesus immediately shifts the focus by counter-accusing them. He challenges their own prioritization of human traditions over divine commandments. This passage illuminates the growing tension between Jesus' teachings focused on the heart and true obedience to God's written law, versus the rigid legalism and outward observance championed by the Pharisees through their oral law. The immediate context following this verse in Matthew and Mark provides a specific example of this transgression: the Corban tradition, which allowed individuals to avoid their responsibility to support their aging parents by declaring their assets "dedicated to God," effectively nullifying the Fifth Commandment to honor one’s parents. This directly polemicizes against the authority attributed to these human traditions when they conflict with God's clear word.
Matthew 15 3 Word analysis
- He answered and said to them: Signifies Jesus' direct and authoritative counter-response. This isn't a passive reply but an assertive turning of the tables. The Greek verb for "answered" (ἀποκριθεὶς, apokritheis) often implies a judicial or formal response, highlighting the gravity of the encounter.
- Why (Διὰ τί, Dia ti): This rhetorical question is a strong challenge. Jesus forces them to reflect on the logical and moral basis of their actions, putting the questioners on the defensive. It's an inquiry into the reason or cause for their behavior.
- do you yourselves transgress (ὑμεῖς παραβαίνετε, hymeis parabainete):
- ὑμεῖς (hymeis) "you yourselves": The emphatic personal pronoun "you all" (plural) highlights that Jesus is not just pointing out a general issue but is directly indicting their specific actions and system. It underscores their personal culpability.
- παραβαίνετε (parabainete) "transgress": This word means "to step across," "to go beyond," "to violate," or "to overstep boundaries." It carries the connotation of a deliberate violation of a standard, in this case, a divine law. It emphasizes that their actions are not merely accidental omissions but active, wilful violations.
- the commandment (τὴν ἐντολὴν, tēn entolēn): Refers to a specific divine command or statute. It contrasts sharply with "tradition" as something given by God, not derived by humans. In this context, it refers primarily to the written Law of Moses.
- of God (τοῦ Θεοῦ, tou Theou): This emphasizes the divine origin and supreme authority of the commandments being violated. It grounds the standard for true obedience in God's will alone.
- for the sake of (διὰ τὴν, dia tēn): Indicates the reason, purpose, or basis for their actions. It implies that their tradition is not just coexisting with but is the motive for their transgression.
- your tradition (παράδοσιν ὑμῶν, paradosin hymōn):
- παράδοσιν (paradosin) "tradition": This word refers to something "handed down" or transmitted. It can refer to a positive, apostolic tradition (as in 2 Thess 2:15). However, here, Jesus explicitly prefixes it with "your," implying human origin and distinct from divine truth. In this context, it specifically means the body of oral laws, interpretations, and customs that had been developed by generations of rabbis and elders, which the Pharisees held as binding.
- ὑμῶν (hymōn) "your": This possessive pronoun critically distinguishes these traditions from God’s commandments. They are man-made, not divinely given.
Matthew 15 3 Bonus section
The core issue in this confrontation extends beyond Jewish legalism. It serves as a timeless warning against any religious system, creed, or practice that elevates human reasoning, customs, or interpretations to a level where they nullify or diminish the plain teaching of Scripture. Throughout history, believers and institutions have sometimes fallen into the trap of prioritizing inherited norms, denominational distinctives, or charismatic insights over the supreme authority of God’s written Word. Jesus' challenge calls all who claim to follow God to constantly examine their practices against the plumb line of His revealed truth. The ultimate test of genuine faith lies not in adhering to meticulous outward displays dictated by men, but in heartfelt obedience to the divine will, characterized by love, mercy, and justice, as enshrined in God's eternal commandments.
Matthew 15 3 Commentary
Matthew 15:3 forms the crux of Jesus’ argument against the religious leaders. Their accusation against His disciples, based on a minor human tradition, is swiftly met with a piercing counter-question that reveals a deeper hypocrisy: they themselves invalidate God's immutable commandments by elevating their man-made rules. This is not a dispute over ceremonial hygiene but a profound theological challenge concerning ultimate authority. Jesus highlights that their "tradition of the elders," while ostensibly meant to safeguard the Law, had become a means by which the spirit and sometimes the letter of God's direct commands were neglected or outright transgressed. The example of Corban illustrates this point perfectly, where honoring parents (a divine command) was forsaken for a traditional vow. The verse powerfully teaches that human regulations, no matter how venerable or well-intentioned, must never supersede or undermine the clear, eternal Word of God. True piety is marked by obedience to divine revelation, not adherence to burdensome external customs that often obscure genuine love for God and neighbor.