Matthew 15:3-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 15:6

And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. The last clause is not in the Greek; it is supplied by our translators, as it was in Coverdale's version, to complete the apodosis. There are various methods of translating the passage. Retaining καὶ at the beginning of the sentence, some make these words the continuation of the gloss, "Whosoever shall say," etc., the apodosis being found in the sentence following. Others conceive an aposiopesis after "be profited by me," as if... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 15:6

The evil influence of man-made rules. "Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition." Sincerely enough, and with a view to helping the people to apply the revealed principles of truth and duty, the national teachers had begun to supply commentaries on, and applications of, the Holy Scriptures. These became ever more and more elaborate; controversies were excited by them, and an authority was claimed for the minute, man-made rule rather than for the comprehensive... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 15:7

Ye hypocrites. He called them by this name because, while they pretended that zeal for God's glory led them to these explanations and amplifications of the Law, they were really influenced by covetousness and avarice, and virtually despised that which they professed to uphold. A Jewish proverb said that if hypocrites were divided into ten parties, nine of them would be found in Jerusalem, and one in the rest of the world. Well did Esaias prophesy of you ( Isaiah 29:13 ). That is, their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 15:8

The quotation is from the Septuagint Version, with a slight variation from the text at the end. The Hebrew also differs a little; but the general meaning is not affected. With their mouth. They use the prescribed forms of worship, guard with much care the letter of Scripture, observe its legal and ceremonial enactments, are strict in the practice of all outward formalities. But their heart. This is what the prophets so constantly object. Prayers, sacrifices, etc., are altogether... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 15:8

Sincerity the keynote of piety. Formality is always imperilling piety. The representation of religious truths in ritual and ceremonial is a necessary condescension to the weakness of men, who want material aid in their effort to grasp spiritual things. But material things have a constant tendency to enslave men. And the enslaving work is done with so much subtlety that many a man who is a slave to his rituals, and to his rules, thinks himself to be a free man today. But, worse than that, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 15:9

But in vain, etc. The Hebrew gives, "And their fear of me is a commandment of men which hath been taught them," or "learned by rote" (Revised Version). Septuagint, "In vain do they worship me, teaching men's commandments and doctrines." Their worship is vitiated at its very root. Commandments of men. This is Christ's designation of rabbinical traditions (comp. Colossians 2:22 ). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 15:1-9

See also Mark 7:1-9.Then came to Jesus ... - Mark says that they saw the disciples of Jesus eating with unwashed hands.Matthew 15:2Transgress the tradition of the elders - The world “elders” literally means “old men.” Here it means the “ancients,” or their “ancestors.” The “tradition of the elders” meant something handed down from one to another by memory; some precept or custom not commanded in the written law, but which scribes and Pharisees held themselves bound to observe.They supposed that... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 15:1-6

Matthew 15:1-6. Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees See notes on Mark 7:1-23, where the facts here spoken of are related more at large. Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders That is, of the principal doctors or teachers among the Jews. They wash not when they eat bread Food in general is termed bread in the Hebrew: so that to eat bread is the same as to make a meal. But he said, Why do ye also, &c. As if he had said, Nay; but I may with much greater... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 15:7-9

Matthew 15:7-9. Ye hypocrites To substitute superstitious observances of man’s invention, in the place of obedience to God’s commands, is downright hypocrisy; it is, however, the prerogative of Him who searches the heart, and knows what is in man, to pronounce who are hypocrites. And as hypocrisy is a sin which only his eye discovers, so it is a sin which above all others he abhors. Well did Esaias prophesy of you That is, the words which Isaiah addressed to your fathers are exactly... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 15:1-20

69. Teaching about cleansing (Matthew 15:1-20; Mark 7:1-23)A common practice of the Jews in Jesus’ time was the ceremonial washing of hands. They believed that those who came in contact with ‘unclean’ people or things had to pour water over their hands to cleanse themselves. This was not a command of the law of Moses but a tradition of the Pharisees (Mark 7:1-5). Jesus argued that such traditions not only caused people to misunderstand the law, but stopped them from doing the more important... read more

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