Matthew 15:3

3 And in answer he said to them, Why do you, yourselves, go against the word of God on account of the teaching which has been handed down to you?

Matthew 15:3 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 15:3

But he answered and said unto them
Taking no notice of the tradition about eating bread without washing the hands, whether it was right or wrong; it being at most but an human tradition, of no moment and importance, whether it was broke or kept; he makes a very just recrimination, by putting another question to them,

why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
suggesting, that, if his disciples were guilty, they were not so guilty as they themselves were; that his disciples, at most, were but guilty of the breach of an human precept, whereas they were guilty of the breach of a divine command; and that it was strange, that men who were so scrupulous of breaking, and bore so hard on such as did transgress the traditions of the elders, could allow themselves to transgress the commandments of God; yea, to do this by, and while they were observing their own traditions: and which observation carries a full acquittance of the disciples from blame; for, if by keeping the traditions of the elders, they broke the commands of God, it was a very good reason why they should not observe them.

Matthew 15:3 In-Context

1 Then there came to Jesus from Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes, saying,

2 Why do your disciples go against the teaching of the fathers? for they take food with unwashed hands.

3 And in answer he said to them, Why do you, yourselves, go against the word of God on account of the teaching which has been handed down to you?

4 For God said, Give honour to your father and mother: and, He who says evil of father or mother will be put to death.

5 But you say, If a man says to his father or his mother, That by which you might have had profit from me is given to God;