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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Matthew 15:3 Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/matthew/15-3.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/3/40_Mat_15_03.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Matthew 15:3 - Tradition and Worship" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Jesus replied, And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?" /><script type="application/javascript" 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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/matthew/15.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/matthew/15.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Jesus replied, &#8220And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/matthew/15.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Jesus replied, “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/matthew/15.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/matthew/15.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/15.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And answering He said to them, "Why also do you break the commandment of God on account of your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/matthew/15.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/matthew/15.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/matthew/15.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves also break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/matthew/15.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />And He answered and said to them, &#8220Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/matthew/15.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And He answered and said to them, “And why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/matthew/15.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/matthew/15.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />He replied to them, “Why also do you violate the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition [handed down by the elders]?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/matthew/15.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He answered them, “Why do you break God’s commandment because of your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/matthew/15.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He answered them, &#8220And why do you break God&#8217s commandment because of your tradition? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/matthew/15.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/matthew/15.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Jesus answered: Why do you disobey God and follow your own teaching? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/matthew/15.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/matthew/15.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />He answered them, "Why do you break the commandment of God because of your traditions?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/matthew/15.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Jesus answered, "And why do you disobey God's command and follow your own teaching? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/matthew/15.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />But he answered them, "Why do you also disregard the commandment of God because of your tradition? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/matthew/15.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He answered them, "And why do you disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/matthew/15.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />And he answered them, "Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/matthew/15.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />But he answered and said to them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/15.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />"Why do you, too," He retorted, "transgress God's commands for the sake of your tradition?<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/matthew/15.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/matthew/15.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He answered them, “Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition? <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/matthew/15.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And He answering said to them, “Why also do you transgress the command of God because of your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/matthew/15.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And answering He said to them, "Why also do you break the commandment of God on account of your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/matthew/15.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And he answering said to them, 'Wherefore also do ye transgress the command of God because of your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/matthew/15.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he, having answered, said to them, Wherefore do ye also pass by the command of God by your tradition.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/matthew/15.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />But he answering, said to them: Why do you also transgress the commandment of God for your tradition? For God said: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/matthew/15.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />But responding, he said to them: “And why do you transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/matthew/15.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />He said to them in reply, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/matthew/15.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/matthew/15.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Jesus answered and said to them, Why do you also disregard the commandment of God on account of your tradition.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/15.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />Yeshua answered and said to them, “Why do you also violate the commandment of God for the sake of your traditions?”<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/matthew/15.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />But he answered and said to them: And why do you transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/matthew/15.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />And responding He said to them; <FR>Wherefore do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/matthew/15.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />And he answering said to them, And why do you transgress the command of God, by your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/matthew/15.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />but he answered them, why do you violate the law of God to follow your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/matthew/15.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />"Why do you, too," He retorted, "transgress God's commands for the sake of your tradition?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/matthew/15.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />And He, answering, said to them, <FR>"Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/matthew/15.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />But He answered and said unto them, <FR>And why do ye transgress the commandment of God for your tradition?<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/matthew/15-3.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=4249" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/matthew/15.htm">Tradition and Worship</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">2</span>“Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.” <span class="reftext">3</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc."></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: Ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/611.htm" title="611: apokritheis (V-APP-NMS) -- From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.">Jesus replied,</a> <a href="/greek/2036.htm" title="2036: eipen (V-AIA-3S) -- Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say."></a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autois (PPro-DM3P) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons."></a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">“And</a> <a href="/greek/1223.htm" title="1223: Dia (Prep) -- A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.">why</a> <a href="/greek/5101.htm" title="5101: ti (IPro-ANS) -- Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what."></a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymeis (PPro-N2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">do you</a> <a href="/greek/3845.htm" title="3845: parabainete (V-PIA-2P) -- To transgress, violate, depart, desert. From para and the base of basis; to go contrary to, i.e. Violate a command.">break</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/1785.htm" title="1785: entolēn (N-AFS) -- An ordinance, injunction, command, law. From entellomai; injunction, i.e. An authoritative prescription.">command</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2316.htm" title="2316: Theou (N-GMS) -- A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.">of God</a> <a href="/greek/1223.htm" title="1223: dia (Prep) -- A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.">for the sake of</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymōn (PPro-G2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">your</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/3862.htm" title="3862: paradosin (N-AFS) -- An instruction, tradition. From paradidomi; transmission, i.e. a precept; specially, the Jewish traditionary law.">tradition?</a> </span> <span class="reftext">4</span>For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/7-8.htm">Mark 7:8-9</a></span><br />You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.” / He went on to say, “You neatly set aside the command of God to maintain your own tradition.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/29-13.htm">Isaiah 29:13</a></span><br />Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/2-8.htm">Colossians 2:8</a></span><br />See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/20-12.htm">Exodus 20:12</a></span><br />Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/5-16.htm">Deuteronomy 5:16</a></span><br />Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/7-13.htm">Mark 7:13</a></span><br />Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-23.htm">Matthew 23:23</a></span><br />Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/1-14.htm">Galatians 1:14</a></span><br />I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/7-23.htm">Jeremiah 7:23-24</a></span><br />but this is what I commanded them: Obey Me, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. You must walk in all the ways I have commanded you, so that it may go well with you. / Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but they followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/20-18.htm">Ezekiel 20:18-19</a></span><br />In the wilderness I said to their children: ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols. / I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/15-22.htm">1 Samuel 15:22</a></span><br />But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/6-6.htm">Hosea 6:6</a></span><br />For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/7-13.htm">Matthew 7:13</a></span><br />Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/3-31.htm">Romans 3:31</a></span><br />Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the law.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/5-45.htm">John 5:45-47</a></span><br />Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, in whom you have put your hope. / If you had believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me. / But since you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">But he answered and said to them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?</p><p class="hdg">Why.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/7-3.htm">Matthew 7:3-5</a></b></br> And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/mark/7-6.htm">Mark 7:6-8,13</a></b></br> He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with <i>their</i> lips, but their heart is far from me… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/colossians/2-8.htm">Colossians 2:8,23</a></b></br> Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/matthew/14-9.htm">Account</a> <a href="/matthew/15-2.htm">Break</a> <a href="/matthew/14-28.htm">Command</a> <a href="/matthew/8-18.htm">Commandment</a> <a href="/zephaniah/2-3.htm">Commands</a> <a href="/matthew/15-2.htm">Disobey</a> <a href="/matthew/14-33.htm">God's</a> <a href="/matthew/11-27.htm">Handed</a> <a href="/matthew/15-1.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/john/7-47.htm">Retorted</a> <a href="/matthew/14-9.htm">Sake</a> <a href="/matthew/15-2.htm">Teaching</a> <a href="/matthew/15-2.htm">Tradition</a> <a href="/mark/7-13.htm">Traditional</a> <a href="/matthew/15-2.htm">Transgress</a> <a href="/matthew/15-2.htm">Wherefore</a> <a href="/matthew/14-35.htm">Word</a> <a href="/matthew/14-16.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/15-6.htm">Account</a> <a href="/mark/6-26.htm">Break</a> <a href="/matthew/15-4.htm">Command</a> <a href="/matthew/15-6.htm">Commandment</a> <a href="/matthew/15-9.htm">Commands</a> <a href="/romans/2-8.htm">Disobey</a> <a href="/matthew/15-6.htm">God's</a> <a href="/matthew/18-34.htm">Handed</a> <a href="/matthew/15-10.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/john/7-47.htm">Retorted</a> <a href="/matthew/15-6.htm">Sake</a> <a href="/matthew/15-6.htm">Teaching</a> <a href="/matthew/15-6.htm">Tradition</a> <a href="/matthew/15-6.htm">Traditional</a> <a href="/mark/7-5.htm">Transgress</a> <a href="/matthew/17-19.htm">Wherefore</a> <a href="/matthew/15-6.htm">Word</a> <a href="/matthew/16-8.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 15</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/15-1.htm">Jesus reproves the Scribes and Pharisees </a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/15-7.htm">for transgressing God's commandments through their own traditions;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/15-10.htm">teaches how that which goes into the mouth does not defile a man.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/15-21.htm">He heals the daughter of the woman of Canaan,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/15-29.htm">and other great multitudes;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">32. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/matthew/15-32.htm">and with seven loaves and a few small fish feeds four thousand men</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/15.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/matthew/15.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Jesus replied</b><br>In this passage, Jesus is responding to the Pharisees and scribes who have questioned Him about His disciples not following the traditional handwashing rituals. Jesus often used questions to challenge the religious leaders, highlighting their misunderstandings or misapplications of the law. This method of teaching was common among rabbis, and Jesus, as the ultimate Rabbi, uses it effectively to reveal deeper truths.<p><b>And why do you break the command of God</b><br>Here, Jesus contrasts the divine commandments with human traditions. The "command of God" refers to the Mosaic Law, which was given to the Israelites as a covenant and is considered the ultimate authority. Jesus emphasizes the importance of adhering to God's commands over human traditions. This reflects the broader biblical theme that God's word is eternal and unchanging, as seen in passages like <a href="/isaiah/40-8.htm">Isaiah 40:8</a>, which states, "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever."<p><b>for the sake of your tradition?</b><br>The "tradition" mentioned here refers to the oral traditions and interpretations that had developed around the Mosaic Law. These traditions were meant to help people keep the law but had, over time, become burdensome and sometimes contradictory to the law itself. Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for allowing these traditions to take precedence over God's commands. This critique is consistent with other instances in the Gospels where Jesus challenges the Pharisees, such as in <a href="/mark/7-8.htm">Mark 7:8</a>, where He says, "You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions." This highlights the danger of elevating human customs above divine instruction, a theme that resonates throughout the New Testament.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus.htm">Jesus</a></b><br>The central figure in this passage, Jesus is addressing the Pharisees and scribes, challenging their adherence to human traditions over God's commandments.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/p/pharisees_and_scribes.htm">Pharisees and Scribes</a></b><br>Religious leaders of the time who were known for their strict adherence to Jewish law and traditions. They often clashed with Jesus over interpretations of the law.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/tradition_vs._commandment.htm">Tradition vs. Commandment</a></b><br>The event highlights a confrontation between Jesus and the religious leaders regarding the prioritization of human traditions over divine commandments.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>While not directly mentioned in this verse, the Pharisees and scribes came from Jerusalem, indicating the significance of this confrontation as they represented the religious authority of the time.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/c/command_of_god.htm">Command of God</a></b><br>Refers to the divine laws given by God, which Jesus emphasizes should take precedence over human traditions.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/p/prioritizing_god's_commandments.htm">Prioritizing God's Commandments</a></b><br>Believers are called to prioritize God's commandments over human traditions. This requires discernment and a commitment to Scripture as the ultimate authority.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/heart_over_ritual.htm">Heart Over Ritual</a></b><br>True worship and obedience come from the heart, not merely external rituals. Our actions should reflect a genuine relationship with God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/e/evaluating_traditions.htm">Evaluating Traditions</a></b><br>It is important to evaluate our traditions and practices to ensure they align with biblical teachings and do not contradict God's commands.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/a/authority_of_scripture.htm">Authority of Scripture</a></b><br>Scripture should be the guiding authority in our lives, and we must be cautious of allowing cultural or religious traditions to supersede biblical truth.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/challenging_religious_norms.htm">Challenging Religious Norms</a></b><br>Like Jesus, we should be willing to challenge religious norms that conflict with God's word, even if it means facing opposition.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_matthew_15.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Matthew 15</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_reconcile_jesus'_view_on_tradition.htm">How do we reconcile Jesus placing God’s command above human tradition with similar teachings about observance of ritual cleanliness in other scriptures (Matthew 15:3–9)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'overcome_by_the_blood'_mean.htm">What were the teachings of Jesus?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_sola_and_solo_scriptura_differ.htm">How do Sola Scriptura and Solo Scriptura differ?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'corban'_mean.htm">What does "Corban" mean?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/15.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(3) <span class= "bld">By your tradition.</span>--Better, <span class= "ital">for the sake of your tradition.</span> Our Lord's answer, it will be noted, is an indirect one, an <span class= "ital">argumentum ad hominem.</span> He shows that their traditional casuistry was in direct opposition to the "commandment" of God, and the natural inference from that antagonism was that in itself, apart from the commandment, it had no binding authority as a rule of life.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/15.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 3.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">He answered.</span> Christ does not formally defend his disciples, nor condemn the Pharisees for their ceremonial ablutions, but he turns to a matter of more importance, even a plain breach or evasion of a plain commandment. <span class="cmt_word">Ye also.</span> If my disciples transgress a tradition of the ancients, ye too transgress, and that <span class="cmt_word">the commandment of God</span> - an error of far graver character. His non-observance of these minutiae showed their unimportance, and called attention to the inward purity which they typified, and which could be maintained without these external ceremonies. At the same time, Jesus does not condemn such symbolical acts, even as he himself washed the disciples' feet before the last Supper. The evil in rabbinical teachings was that it superseded the spiritual view, and placed outward cleansing on a higher level than inward holiness. <span class="cmt_word">By</span> (<span class="greek">διὰ</span> with accusative); <span class="accented">on account of</span>, in order to maintain. <span class="cmt_word">Your tradition.</span> Tradition which is emphatically yours and not God's, a human gloss, not a revealed command. Jesus does not accept the assertion that these traditions are derived from the ancients; he gives them a more modern origin. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/matthew/15-3.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">[Jesus] replied,</span><br /><span class="grk">ἀποκριθεὶς</span> <span class="translit">(apokritheis)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_611.htm">Strong's 611: </a> </span><span class="str2">From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“And</span><br /><span class="grk">καὶ</span> <span class="translit">(kai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> </span><span class="str2">And, even, also, namely. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">why</span><br /><span class="grk">Διὰ</span> <span class="translit">(Dia)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1223.htm">Strong's 1223: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">{do} you</span><br /><span class="grk">ὑμεῖς</span> <span class="translit">(hymeis)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> </span><span class="str2">You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">break</span><br /><span class="grk">παραβαίνετε</span> <span class="translit">(parabainete)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3845.htm">Strong's 3845: </a> </span><span class="str2">To transgress, violate, depart, desert. From para and the base of basis; to go contrary to, i.e. Violate a command.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the</span><br /><span class="grk">τὴν</span> <span class="translit">(tēn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Accusative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">command</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐντολὴν</span> <span class="translit">(entolēn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1785.htm">Strong's 1785: </a> </span><span class="str2">An ordinance, injunction, command, law. From entellomai; injunction, i.e. An authoritative prescription.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of God</span><br /><span class="grk">Θεοῦ</span> <span class="translit">(Theou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2316.htm">Strong's 2316: </a> </span><span class="str2">A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for the sake of</span><br /><span class="grk">διὰ</span> <span class="translit">(dia)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1223.htm">Strong's 1223: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your</span><br /><span class="grk">ὑμῶν</span> <span class="translit">(hymōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> </span><span class="str2">You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">tradition?</span><br /><span class="grk">παράδοσιν</span> <span class="translit">(paradosin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3862.htm">Strong's 3862: </a> </span><span class="str2">An instruction, tradition. From paradidomi; transmission, i.e. a precept; specially, the Jewish traditionary law.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/15-3.htm">Matthew 15:3 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/matthew/15-3.htm">Matthew 15:3 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/matthew/15-3.htm">Matthew 15:3 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/matthew/15-3.htm">Matthew 15:3 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/matthew/15-3.htm">Matthew 15:3 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/15-3.htm">Matthew 15:3 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/15-3.htm">Matthew 15:3 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/15-3.htm">Matthew 15:3 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/15-3.htm">Matthew 15:3 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/matthew/15-3.htm">Matthew 15:3 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/matthew/15-3.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 15:3 He answered them Why do you also (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/15-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 15:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 15:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/15-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 15:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 15:4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>