2 "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!"
2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
2 "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat."
2 "Why do your disciples play fast and loose with the rules?"
2 "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."
2 "Why do your disciples disobey our age-old tradition? For they ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat."
3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.
3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft,
3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash
3 The Pharisees - Jews in general, in fact - would never eat a meal without going through the motions of a ritual hand-washing,
3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.
3 (The Jews, especially the Pharisees, do not eat until they have poured water over their cupped hands, as required by their ancient traditions.
(Read Mark 7:1-13)
One great design of Christ's coming was, to set aside the ceremonial law; and to make way for this, he rejects the ceremonies men added to the law of God's making. Those clean hands and that pure heart which Christ bestows on his disciples, and requires of them, are very different from the outward and superstitious forms of Pharisees of every age. Jesus reproves them for rejecting the commandment of God. It is clear that it is the duty of children, if their parents are poor, to relieve them as far as they are able; and if children deserve to die that curse their parents, much more those that starve them. But if a man conformed to the traditions of the Pharisees, they found a device to free him from the claim of this duty.
13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that."
13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do."
13 You scratch out God's Word and scrawl a whim in its place. You do a lot of things like this."
13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do."
13 And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others."
(Read Mark 7:1-13)
One great design of Christ's coming was, to set aside the ceremonial law; and to make way for this, he rejects the ceremonies men added to the law of God's making. Those clean hands and that pure heart which Christ bestows on his disciples, and requires of them, are very different from the outward and superstitious forms of Pharisees of every age. Jesus reproves them for rejecting the commandment of God. It is clear that it is the duty of children, if their parents are poor, to relieve them as far as they are able; and if children deserve to die that curse their parents, much more those that starve them. But if a man conformed to the traditions of the Pharisees, they found a device to free him from the claim of this duty.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 15:2
Commentary on Matthew 15:1-9
(Read Matthew 15:1-9)
Additions to God's laws reflect upon his wisdom, as if he had left out something which was needed, and which man could supply; in one way or other they always lead men to disobey God. How thankful ought we to be for the written word of God! Never let us think that the religion of the Bible can be improved by any human addition, either in doctrine or practice. Our blessed Lord spoke of their traditions as inventions of their own, and pointed out one instance in which this was very clear, that of their transgressing the fifth commandment. When a parent's wants called for assistance, they pleaded, that they had devoted to the temple all they could spare, even though they did not part with it, and therefore their parents must expect nothing from them. This was making the command of God of no effect. The doom of hypocrites is put in a little compass; "In vain do they worship me." It will neither please God, nor profit themselves; they trust in vanity, and vanity will be their recompence.