Matthew 15:1-9

Listen to Matthew 15:1-9

Traditions and Commandments

1 1Then Pharisees and 2scribes came to Jesus 3from Jerusalem and said,
2 4“Why do your disciples break 5the tradition of the elders? 6For they do not wash their hands when they eat. ”
3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
4 For God commanded, 7‘Honor your father and your mother, ’ and, 8‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die. ’
5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God, ” [a]
6 he need not honor his father. ’So for the sake of your tradition you have 9made void the word[b] of God.
7 10You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:
8 11“‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;
9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as 12doctrines the commandments of men. ’”

Cross References 12

  • 1. 15:1 For ver. 1-20, see Mark 7:1-23
  • 2. 15:1 Mark 3:22
  • 3. 15:1 Mark 3:22
  • 4. 15:2 [ch. 9:11]
  • 5. 15:2 Gal. 1:14; Col. 2:8
  • 6. 15:2 Luke 11:38
  • 7. 15:4 Cited from Ex. 20:12
  • 8. 15:4 Cited from Ex. 21:17
  • 9. 15:6 Gal. 3:17 (Gk.); [Rom. 2:23]
  • 10. 15:7 ch. 23:13
  • 11. 15:8 Cited from Isa. 29:13; [Ezek. 33:31]
  • 12. 15:9 Col. 2:22; Titus 1:14

Footnotes 2

  • [a] 15:5 Or 'is an offering'
  • [b] 15:6 Some manuscripts 'law'
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025