Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Matthew 15:1 - 15:11
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_15:1-11
1Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2"Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread." 3And He answered and said to them, "Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4For God said, 'Honor your father and mother,'and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother is to be put to death.'5But you say, "Whoever says to his father or mother, 'Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God,'6he is not to honor his father or mother." And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you:
8This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far away from Me.
9But in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'
10After Jesus called the crowd to Him, He said to them, "Hear and understand. 11It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man."
Mat_15:1 "Pharisees" They were the most outwardly religious sect within first century Judaism. They had developed during the Maccabean period. The name may have meant "separated ones." Jesus did not condemn all Pharisees but only those who were outwardly legalistic without inner righteousness (Isa_29:13). They emphasized absolute conformity to the oral tradition which was later codified into the Talmud. For a full discussion of the origin and theology of the Pharisees see Special Topic at Mat_22:15.
▣ "scribes" This was a professional group of religious lawyers, trained in the written law and oral tradition, who were contacted to make rulings on points of Jewish regulations related to daily life. See Special Topic at Mat_12:38.
▣ "from Jerusalem" Jesus was in Galilee at this time so these men traveled a long way to hear Him. They were, if you please, a delegation from headquarters!
Mat_15:2 "your disciples" The disciples were from Galilee, where Judaism was not as strict as in the Jerusalem area.
▣ "the tradition of the elders" This was a reference to the large body of oral traditions called the Mishnah, which interpreted the Law of Moses and helped apply it to everyday life. The Mishnah was codified most completely by Rabbi Judah in a.d. 200 and later became part of the Talmud. It was believed by the rabbis to be as authoritative as the Torah (Gen.-Deut.), for it, too, was believed to have been given orally to Moses by God (cf. Deu_4:14).
▣ "they do not wash their hands when they eat" Handwashing was not for hygienic purposes but for ceremonial cleanliness. The OT did not require washing before every meal, but tradition grew (1) from Exo_30:19 where the priests were to wash and (2) Leviticus 15, where those who touched something unclean were to wash. By Jesus' time washing before meals had become a major part of Jewish religious life. One early rabbi was excommunicated for not washing properly! Not only was washing before meals commanded, but washing after and even between the individual courses was also considered a religious ceremonial duty.
Mat_15:4 "God said" Mar_7:11 has "Moses said." This shows Jesus' view of the authority and inspiration of the OT (cf. Mat_5:17-19).
▣ "Honor your father and mother" Jesus quoted one of the Ten Commandments (cf. Exo_20:12; Deu_5:16). "Honor" was a commercial term which meant "to give due weight to."
▣ The second OT quote in Mat_15:4 is from Exo_21:17 or Lev_20:9. The stability of the society demanded swift and strong action against those who violated covenant requirements. The family was/is based to society.
▣ "He who speaks evil of father or mother is to be put to death."See Exo_21:17 and Lev_20:1.
Mat_15:5
NASB, NRSV "has been given to God"
NKJV "dedicated to the temple"
TEV "belongs to God"
NJB "dedicated to God"
The concept of vowing or dedicating unneeded resources to God was called corban (from Hebrew word for "gift," cf. Lev_1:2; Lev_22:27; Lev_23:14; Num_7:25) or "under the ban" (cf. Mar_7:11). This vow thereby made these resources legally unavailable to be used to help aging parents (though they might be used for other personal reasons).
Mat_15:6
NASB "he is not to honor"
NKJV "is released from honoring"
TEV "they do not need to honor"
NJB "he is rid of his duty"
Although it is not expressed in English this phrase is
1. a strong double negative
2. implies a question
3. a quote from the teachings (or implication of) the Pharisees/Scribes
NASB "invalidated"
NKJV "no effect"
NRSV "void"
NJB "ineffective"
This is a strong Greek word used only here and the parallel in Mar_7:13 and in Gal_3:17. By their motives and actions the intent of the Scriptures was compromised to human greed! These people looked religious, but the evidence of the Fall remained (i.e., more for me at any cost).
▣ "for the sake of your tradition" This term (pardosis) is used in several senses.
1. in 1Co_11:2; 1Co_11:23 for gospel truths
2. in Mat_15:6; Mat_23:1 ff; Mar_7:8; Gal_1:14 of Jewish traditions
3. in Col_2:6-8 of gnostic speculations
4. Roman Catholics use this verse as a biblical proof-text for Scripture and tradition being equal in authority
However, in this context it refers to Apostolic truth, either spoken or written (cf. 2Th_3:6)
Mat_15:7 "you hypocrites" This was a theatrical term literally "to judge under" but in the sense of "to play a part behind a mask."
Mat_15:8-9 "This people honor me with their lips" This is a quote from the Septuagint of Isa_29:13. This powerful verse shows that a person's personal faith is clearly revealed by their outward acts and words (cf. Rom_4:3-6; Jas_2:14-26).
Mat_15:8 "far away" This phrase conveys the idea of holding something or someone at arm's length.
Mat_15:10 "Jesus called the crowd to Him," Jesus publicly denounced these religious leaders from Jerusalem.
Mat_15:11 "It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man" This related primarily to the question of hand washing (cf. Mat_15:18; Mat_15:20), but Mar_7:19 adds a phrase that related the statement to all foods (cf. Acts 10). The purity is from within and it guides/directs outward activities.