Matthew 15:3

3 But Jesus put it right back on them. "Why do you use your rules to play fast and loose with God's commands?

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 After that, Pharisees and religion scholars came to Jesus all the way from Jerusalem, criticizing,

2 "Why do your disciples play fast and loose with the rules?"

3 But Jesus put it right back on them. "Why do you use your rules to play fast and loose with God's commands?

4 God clearly says, 'Respect your father and mother,' and, 'Anyone denouncing father or mother should be killed.'

5 But you weasel around that by saying, 'Whoever wants to, can say to father and mother, What I owed to you I've given to God.'