Matthew 15:3

1 Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked,

2 “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.”

Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?

4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’

5 But you say that if anyone says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?
KJV
But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
WEB
He answered them, “Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition?
ASV
And he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?
DARBY
But he answering said to them, Why do *ye* also transgress the commandment of God on account of your traditional teaching?
BLB
And answering, He said to them, “Why also do you⁺ transgress the commandment of God because of your⁺ tradition?
ÅB
Men han svarte og sa til dem: «Hvorfor bryter dere Guds bud for å følge tradisjonene deres?
OTB
Jesus svarte: "Og hvorfor bryter dere Guds bud for deres tradisjons skyld?
B1930
Men han svarte og sa til dem: Og I, hvorfor bryter I Guds bud for eders vedtekts skyld?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Colossians 2:23

    Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

    Read in context
  • Titus 1:14

    and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of men who have rejected the truth.

    Read in context
  • Colossians 2:8

    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.

    Read in context
  • Mark 7:6–8

    Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 7:3–5

    Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?

    Read in context
  • Mark 7:13

    Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.”

    Read in context