Matthew 15:1 ¶ Then came to
Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition
of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye
also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father
and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his
father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest
be profited by me; 6 And honour not his
father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the
commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias
prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people
draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips;
but their heart is far from me. 9 But in
vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
It is Jesus’ way to answer a question with a question and
rabbinical tradition of the time had to be dealt with here. I don’t often quote
other gospels as I am not trying to harmonize them but in this case I think
this might be helpful;
Mark 7:1 ¶ Then came
together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from
Jerusalem. 2 And when they saw some of
his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands,
they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees,
and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the
tradition of the elders. 4 And when they
come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things
there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots,
brasen vessels, and of tables. 5 Then
the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to
the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? 6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath
Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me
with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching
for doctrines the commandments of men. 8
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as
the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject
the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy
mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father
or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be
profited by me; he shall be free. 12 And
ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through
your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Jesus alludes to verses in Isaiah, Esias from the Greek language.
Here is a larger part of the passage He is alluding to;
Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore the
Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with
their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their
fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: 14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a
marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the
wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent
men shall be hid.
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