Devine Scripture

Matthew 15:2

What does Matthew 15:2 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 15:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 15:2 means

The Pharisees and scribes challenge Jesus, questioning why His disciples disregard the "tradition of the elders" by not ceremonially washing their hands before eating. This tradition was a man-made ritual, not a biblical commandment, but it held significant weight among the Jewish religious elite. Their accusation reveals their focus on external conformity to their own rules rather than on the true spiritual condition of the heart, setting up Jesus's rebuke of their misplaced priorities in the verses to follow.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Why do your disciples go against the teaching of the fathers? for they take food with unwashed hands.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`Wherefore do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they do not wash their hands when they may eat bread.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the ancients? For they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Why do thy disciples transgress what has been delivered by the ancients? for they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.

Context

Following the introduction of the Pharisees and scribes in verse 1, this verse immediately presents their accusation against Jesus's disciples. It frames the central conflict of the debate: the clash between human tradition and God's law. This question directly provokes Jesus's strong counter-argument, which will unfold in the subsequent verses, exposing the hypocrisy of the religious leaders.

v.1Then there come to Jesus from Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes, saying,

v.2This passage

v.3And he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 Peter 1:18

    knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers;

  • Luke 11:38

    And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first bathed himself before dinner.

  • Mark 7:2

    and had seen that some of his disciples ate their bread with defiled, that is, unwashen, hands.

  • Colossians 2:8

    Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:

  • Mark 7:5

    And the Pharisees and the scribes ask him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with defiled hands?

  • Colossians 2:20

    If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances,

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