But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. By putting the commandments of men on a level with the divine requirements, their whole worship was rendered vain-a principle of deep moment in the service of God. "For," it is added in Mark 7:8, "laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups; and many other such like things ye do." [Tregelles brackets all the words after "men" in this verse as of doubtful authority; but we see no ground for this: Tischendorf inserts the whole as in the receives text.] The drivelling nature of their multitudinous observances is here pointedly exposed, in contrast with the manly observance of "the commandment of God;" and when our Lord says, "Many other such like things ye do," it is implied that He had but given a specimen of the hideous treatment which the divine law received, and the grasping disposition which, under the mask of piety, was manifested by the ecclesiastics of that day.