Matthew 15:1-6 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees See notes on Mark 7:1-23, where the facts here spoken of are related more at large. Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders That is, of the principal doctors or teachers among the Jews. They wash not when they eat bread Food in general is termed bread in the Hebrew: so that to eat bread is the same as to make a meal. But he said, Why do ye also, &c. As if he had said, Nay; but I may with much greater reason ask you why you transgress what is infinitely more sacred, even the commandment of God, by your tradition Your vain and superstitious doctrine, delivered by verbal communication, and handed down from age to age. For God commanded, Honour thy father and mother Which implies the affording them all such relief as they stand in need of: and, He that curseth father or mother Although it be in a sudden transport of passion; let him die the death Let him be put to death without mercy, Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9; where see the note. But ye say But what you teach is contradictory to this divine command; and an ungrateful child may justify himself in the neglect of it in consequence of your tradition: for your doctrine is, Whosoever shall say to his father, It is a gift, &c. That is, I have given, or at least I purpose to give, to the treasury of the temple, what you might otherwise have had from me; and honour not his father and his mother Namely, by relieving them in their poverty, or supplying their wants, he shall be free From all blame, or from all obligation of giving them relief. Thus have ye made the commandment of God Even a commandment written with his own finger on the tables of stone; of none effect by your tradition Have absolutely rendered it useless, and as it were annihilated it.