Matthew 15:3 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

But Jesus fired back at them: 'Hold up, why are you breaking God's actual commands just to keep your own traditions going?'

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

Jesus called out the religious leaders for choosing human traditions over God's truth.

📚 Historical Context

In the first century, the Pharisees and scribes were religious leaders in Jewish society who emphasized oral traditions passed down alongside the Mosaic Law, often prioritizing these over God's direct commands. Jesus was responding to their criticism of His disciples for not performing a ceremonial hand-washing ritual, pointing out that their traditions sometimes nullified God's commandments. This confrontation occurred during Jesus' ministry in Galilee, highlighting the tension between human customs and divine authority.

Explore Similar Verses

Mark 7:9

And he called them out: 'You're really something, you throw out what God actually said just so you can stick to your own traditions.'

Mark 7:8

You've dropped God's actual commands and instead you're obsessing over human traditions, like the 'right' way to wash dishes and cups, plus a bunch of other made-up rules.

Mark 7:13

You're basically canceling out God's word with all your human traditions that you keep passing down. And honestly, you do this kind of thing all the time.

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📚 Historical Context

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