Matthew 15:2 Meaning and Explanation
“Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The leaders accuse Jesus' disciples of breaking the elders' tradition by not performing the ceremonial hand-washing.
What Does Matthew 15:2 Mean?
The charge is precise: the disciples neglect a ritual hand-washing handed down by earlier teachers. This was not about hygiene but about a ceremonial purity custom added to the law over generations. By framing it as transgressing the tradition of the elders, the leaders reveal what they prize, the accumulated rulings of men held alongside, and sometimes above, the word of God.
Their question exposes a quiet danger in every age: mistaking inherited custom for divine command. Jesus will answer not by despising reverence but by asking where true defilement lies. The exchange invites us to test our own practices, to honor what God has spoken and hold loosely the rules we have layered on top of it.
Matthew 15:2 in the Original Language
paradosis (παράδοσις), 'tradition' -- that which is handed down, here the body of customs passed from teacher to teacher.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 15:2
What does Matthew 15:2 mean?
The leaders accuse Jesus' disciples of breaking the elders' tradition by not performing the ceremonial hand-washing.