Matthew 15:3 Meaning and Explanation
“But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus turns the charge back, asking why they break God's commandment for the sake of their tradition.
What Does Matthew 15:3 Mean?
Jesus answers their accusation with a sharper one. They had asked why His disciples transgress the tradition of the elders; He asks why they transgress the commandment of God by their tradition. The reversal is deliberate. Their complaint concerned a man-made rule; His concern is the very word God spoke. The little word also presses the point: you accuse, but look at yourselves.
Here Jesus draws a line that runs through all of faith. Human tradition has its place, but when it is allowed to overrule what God has plainly commanded, something has gone wrong at the root. The Lord is not against reverence or order; He is against letting our additions silence God's own voice. True obedience begins by hearing Him first.
Matthew 15:3 in the Original Language
entole (ἐντολή), 'commandment' -- a direct charge or order, here the command given by God Himself.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 15:3
What does Matthew 15:3 mean?
Jesus turns the charge back, asking why they break God's commandment for the sake of their tradition.