Matthew 15:8 Meaning and Explanation
“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Isaiah's words describe worship that is loud on the lips yet empty in the heart.
What Does Matthew 15:8 Mean?
Quoting Isaiah, Jesus describes worship that goes only as deep as the lips. The people draw near with their mouths and honor God with their words, but their hearts remain far off. The contrast between mouth and heart is the verse's whole point: speech can be reverent while the inner person is absent. This was the condition Jesus saw in the leaders before Him.
The words search every worshipper across time. It is possible to say the right prayers, sing the right songs, and recite the right truths while the heart drifts elsewhere. God desires not merely our words but ourselves. The verse is a tender and searching call to close the gap, to let the heart draw as near to God as the lips claim to be.
Matthew 15:8 in the Original Language
kardia (καρδία), 'heart' -- the inner center of thought, will, and affection, the true self that worship must engage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 15:8
What does Matthew 15:8 mean?
Isaiah's words describe worship that is loud on the lips yet empty in the heart.