Matthew 15:2

Matthew 15:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
• New International Version (NIV)“Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”
• English Standard Version (ESV)"Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat."
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

Context of Matthew 15:2

1Then some Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem came to Jesus and said, “Why do Your disciples violate the tradition (religious laws) handed down by the [Jewish] elders? For Your disciples do not [ceremonially] wash their hands before they eat.” 3He replied to them, “Why also do you violate the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition [handed down by the elders]? 4For God said [through Moses], ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of or insults or treats improperly father or mother is to be put to death.’

Matthew 15:2 word by word

διὰ τί οἱ μαθηταί σου παραβαίνουσιν τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν πρεσβυτέρων; οὐ γὰρ νίπτονται τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν ὅταν ἄρτον ἐσθίωσιν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• ·διάdia · through/because ofG1223
• Whyτίςtis · which?G5101
• doπαραβαίνωparabainō · to transgressG3845
• thyσύsu · youG4771
• disciplesμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
• the traditionπαράδοσιςparadosis · traditionG3862
• of the eldersπρεσβύτεροςpresbuteros · elder (leader)G4245
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• they washνίπτωniptō · to washG3538
• notοὐou · noG3756
• theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• handsχείρcheir · handG5495
• whenὅτανhotan · when(-ever)G3752
• they eatἐσθίωesthiō · to eatG2068
• breadἄρτοςartos · breadG740

Cross-references for Matthew 15:2

• Mark 7:2and they had seen that some of His disciples ate their bread with [ceremonially] impure hands, that is, unwashed [and defiled according to Jewish religious ritual].
• Genesis 1:14Then God said, “Let there be light-bearers (sun, moon, stars) in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be useful for signs (tokens) [of God’s provident care], and for marking seasons, days, and years;
• Colossians 2:8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth—the teachings of] Christ.
• 1 Peter 1:18For you know that you were not redeemed from your useless [spiritually unproductive] way of life inherited [by tradition] from your forefathers with perishable things like silver and gold,

Commentaries on Matthew 15:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Elders - Rulers and magistrates among the Jews. For they wash not their hands - What frivolous nonsense! These Pharisees had nothing which their malice could fasten on in the conduct or doctrine of our blessed Lord and his disciples, and therefore they must dispute about washing of hands! All sorts of Pharisees are troublesome people in religious society; and the reason is, they take more pleasure in blaming others than in amending themselves. The…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-9Verses 1-9 See also Mark 7:1-9. Then came to Jesus … - Mark says that they saw the disciples of Jesus eating with unwashed hands. Matthew 15:2 Transgress the tradition of the elders - The world “elders” literally means “old men.” Here it means the “ancients,” or their “ancestors.” The “tradition of the elders” meant something handed down from one to another by memory; some precept or custom not commanded in the written law, but which scribes and Pharisees…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2Jewish teachers developed long-standing traditions to explain how the written Torah should guide daily life. These traditions were memorized and passed from teacher to student by word of mouth(see 1 Corinthians 11:23; 15:1–5). break the tradition of … wash their hands (see Mark 7:2–4; Luke 11:38): The tradition of hand washing was seen as important. Ignoring this practice was considered disobedience to the Torah and unfaithfulness to God’s will for Israel…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 15:2

• Ablution
• Eating
• Ecclesiasticism
• Government
• Hand
• Hypocrisy
• Jesus, the Christ
• Pharisees
• Purification
• Sin
• Teachers
• Tradition

In the dictionaries

• Capernaum
• Commandment
• Continue
• Draught
• Fill
• Release
• Sin
• Teach
• Tradition
• Truth

Commentaries on Matthew 15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings