The legal washing of hands before eating was especially sacred in the eyes of the Pharisees. "He who does not wash His hands before eating," says the Talmud, "is as bad as a murderer." Jesus had no sympathy with a system that reduced religion to a slavery to outward forms. His new kingdom was in the heart, in loving sonship to God, and in faith. All outward observances had value only as expressions of the inner spirit. He waived aside their deadly pedantry and told His hearers to care above everything for the cleanliness of the heart.
He did more; He accused the Pharisees of putting their commandments on a level with the divine requirements, and so rendering the whole of Israel's worship vain. The divine authority for what is commanded is greatly weakened when it is mixed up with the purely human. A multitude of saints' days weakens the claims of the Lord's day. Remember that no gift to God's service is acceptable if you neglect the claims of those who are related to you by natural ties. Morality in God's eyes stands far above ritual. [source]
Chapter Summary: Matthew 15
1Jesus reproves the Scribes and Pharisees 7for transgressing God's commandments through their own traditions; 10teaches how that which goes into the mouth does not defile a man 21He heals the daughter of the woman of Canaan, 29and other great multitudes; 32and with seven loaves and a few small fish feeds four thousand men
Greek Commentary for Matthew 15:7
Well did Isaiah prophesy of you [καλως επροπητευσεν περι μων Εσαιας] There is sarcasm in this pointed application of Isaiah‘s words (Isaiah 29:13) to these rabbis. He “beautifully pictured” them. The portrait was to the very life, “teaching as their doctrines the commandments of men.” They were indeed far from God if they imagined that God would be pleased with such gifts at the expense of duty to one‘s parents. [source]
Mark 7:9Full well do ye reject the commandment of God that ye may keep your traditions [καλως ατετειτε την εντολην του τεου ινα την παραδοσιν υμων τηρησητε] One can almost see the scribes withering under this terrible arraignment. It was biting sarcasm that cut to the bone. The evident irony should prevent literal interpretation as commendation of the Pharisaic pervasion of God‘s word. See my The Pharisees and Jesus for illustrations of the way that they placed this oral tradition above the written law. See note on Matthew 15:7. [source]
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: προφητεύω
Sense: to prophesy, to be a prophet, speak forth by divine inspirations, to predict.
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἠσαί̈ας
Sense: a famous Hebrew prophet who prophesied in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.
Greek Commentary for Matthew 15:7
There is sarcasm in this pointed application of Isaiah‘s words (Isaiah 29:13) to these rabbis. He “beautifully pictured” them. The portrait was to the very life, “teaching as their doctrines the commandments of men.” They were indeed far from God if they imagined that God would be pleased with such gifts at the expense of duty to one‘s parents. [source]
Admirably. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 15:7
This terrible word of Jesus appears first from him in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:2, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:16; Matthew 7:5), then in Matthew 15:7 and Matthew 22:18. Here it appears “with terrific iteration” (Bruce) save in the third of the seven woes (Matthew 23:13, Matthew 23:15, Matthew 23:23, Matthew 23:25, Matthew 23:27, Matthew 23:29). The verb in the active The MSS. that insert it put it either before Matthew 23:13 or after Matthew 23:13. Plummer cites these seven woes as another example of Matthew‘s fondness for the number seven, more fancy than fact for Matthew‘s Gospel is not the Apocalypse of John. These are all illustrations of Pharisaic saying and not doing (Allen). [source]
One can almost see the scribes withering under this terrible arraignment. It was biting sarcasm that cut to the bone. The evident irony should prevent literal interpretation as commendation of the Pharisaic pervasion of God‘s word. See my The Pharisees and Jesus for illustrations of the way that they placed this oral tradition above the written law. See note on Matthew 15:7. [source]
Aptly, truly. Compare John 8:48; Matthew 15:7; Luke 20:39. [source]