Matthew 15:9 Meaning and Explanation
“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Such worship is empty because it elevates human commandments to the status of divine doctrine.
What Does Matthew 15:9 Mean?
Isaiah's prophecy reaches its verdict: their worship is in vain because they teach as doctrine the commandments of men. The word vain means empty, without result, worship that goes through the motions yet accomplishes nothing before God. The reason is given plainly: human rules have been dressed up as divine teaching, and so the worship aims at the wrong thing.
This closes Jesus' answer to the leaders. Worship loses its power when man's voice is mistaken for God's. The Lord does not reject reverence; He rejects reverence misdirected, devotion given to human invention as though it were heaven's command. The verse urges us to anchor our worship in what God has truly spoken, so that it is never empty but alive and pleasing to Him.
Matthew 15:9 in the Original Language
maten (μάτην), 'in vain' -- emptily, to no purpose, describing worship that produces nothing of real worth before God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 15:9
What does Matthew 15:9 mean?
Such worship is empty because it elevates human commandments to the status of divine doctrine.