Matthew 15:3

3 He answered, and said to them, Why [also] break ye the commandment of God for your tradition?

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 the scribes and the Pharisees came to him from Jerusalem, and said, [Then scribes and Pharisees came nigh to him from Jerusalem, saying,]

2 Why break thy disciples the traditions of elder men [Why thy disciples break the traditions, either the teachings, of elder men]? for they wash not their hands, when they eat bread.

3 He answered, and said to them, Why [also] break ye the commandment of God for your tradition?

4 For God said, Honour thy father and thy mother [Honour thy father and mother], and he that curseth father or mother, die he by death.

5 But ye say, Whoever saith to father or mother [But ye say, Whoever shall say to the father or mother], Whatever gift is of me, it shall profit to thee;