Matthew 15:1-9, Commandments and Traditions

1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” 3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” 6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. 7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:

8 “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

Comments

An official deputation concerned about Jesus’ heterodox movement in Galilee arrived from the capital to investigate this rabbi. A rabbi was responsible for the theology and life of their disciples, and this delegation believed Jesus was leading his astray. Jesus turned the tables on them saying that oral tradition went beyond the written law and was a detrimental elaboration on it. (Eventually oral traditions such as these were codified in the Mishnah with its incredibly detailed regulations, c. AD 200.)

While Exodus 30:18 and following required the washing of hands at certain cultic events, the requirement to wash your hands before a meal was a new introduction by the Pharisees around the time of Jesus. They believed that “he should have known better.” Jesus did not deny the charge but undermined its significance. The commandments Jesus quoted were from God’s Ten Commandments, not tradition, and they establish the seriousness of Jesus’ charge against his detractors. A tradition that voids the commandment of God had no authority for Jesus and should not for us today.

Prayer

This is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring forth, but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of Jesus. Amen.

(BCP, p. 461)