What is the meaning of Matthew 15:3? Jesus replied - The scene opens with the Lord answering Pharisees and scribes who had traveled from Jerusalem to accuse His disciples of ceremonial defilement (Matthew 15:1–2, Mark 7:1–5). - By stepping into the conversation Himself, Jesus models righteous confrontation (cf. John 2:24–25) and shows that truth must address error head-on (2 Timothy 4:2). - His reply carries divine authority; He is not offering an opinion but speaking as the incarnate Word who perfectly reveals the Father (John 1:14, Hebrews 1:1–2). And why do you break - “Break” underscores an active decision to violate—not a mere oversight (James 2:10, 1 John 3:4). - Jesus places the burden of proof on the religious leaders: they accuse others, yet they themselves stand guilty before God’s standard (Romans 2:1). - The question form invites self-examination, echoing the Lord’s pattern of exposing hearts (Luke 6:41-42). the command of God - God’s commands are clear, binding, and good (Psalm 19:7-8). Human inventions can never overrule them (Deuteronomy 4:2, Revelation 22:18-19). - In the immediate context, the command in view is “Honor your father and mother” (Exodus 20:12), which the Pharisees had nullified by their vow system (Matthew 15:4-6, Mark 7:10-13). - To tamper with a divine command is to rebel against the Lawgiver Himself (Isaiah 33:22, James 4:12). for the sake of - This phrase exposes motive: maintaining religious respectability, control, and human approval (John 12:43). - Whenever obedience to God is sacrificed for any other cause—cultural comfort, personal gain, or institutional preservation—the heart has shifted allegiance (Matthew 6:24, Galatians 1:10). - Jesus highlights the spiritual danger of elevating any agenda above God’s revealed will (1 Samuel 15:22-23). your tradition? - Tradition can be valuable when it transmits truth (2 Thessalonians 2:15), yet deadly when it supplants Scripture (Colossians 2:8). - The Pharisaic “Corban” tradition sounded devout but actually excused neglect of parents, contradicting the very Law they claimed to honor (Mark 7:11-13). - Jesus’ rebuke warns every generation: measure all customs—old or new—by the infallible Word (Acts 17:11, Isaiah 8:20). summary Matthew 15:3 reveals the Lord’s unwavering priority: God’s command stands supreme over all human tradition. Jesus challenges religious leaders—and every believer—to test motives, refuse man-made loopholes, and submit wholeheartedly to Scripture’s clear authority. When tradition aligns with God’s Word, keep it; when it competes, discard it, honoring the Lord above all. |
    |