VERSE STUDY • KJV

Matthew 15:1-6

¹ Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, ² Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. ³ But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? ⁴ For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. ⁵ But ye say, Whosoever shall say to [his] father or [his] mother, [It is] a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; ⁶ And honour not his father or his mother, [he shall be free]. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

Read it in 5 translations

KJV King James Version

¹ Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, ² Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. ³ But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? ⁴ For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. ⁵ But ye say, Whosoever shall say to [his] father or [his] mother, [It is] a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; ⁶ And honour not his father or his mother, [he shall be free]. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

BSB Berean Standard Bible

¹ Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, ² “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.” ³ Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? ⁴ For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ ⁵ But you say that if anyone says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ ⁶ he need not honor his father or mother with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

WEB World English Bible

¹ Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying, ² “Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat bread.” ³ He answered them, “Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition? ⁴ For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’ ⁵ But you say, ‘Whoever may tell his father or his mother, “Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God,” ⁶ he shall not honor his father or mother.’ You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition.

ASV American Standard Version

¹ Then there come to Jesus from Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes, saying, ² Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. ³ And he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition ? ⁴ For God said, Honor thy father and thy mother: and, He that speaketh evil of father or mother, let him die the death. ⁵ But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is given to God; ⁶ he shall not honor his father. And ye have made void the word of God because of your tradition.

YLT Young’s Literal Translation

¹ Then come unto Jesus do they from Jerusalem—scribes and Pharisees—saying, ² ‘Wherefore do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they do not wash their hands when they may eat bread.’ ³ And he answering said to them, ‘Wherefore also do ye transgress the command of God because of your tradition? ⁴ for God did command, saying, Honour thy father and mother; and, He who is speaking evil of father or mother—let him die the death; ⁵ but ye say, Whoever may say to father or mother, An offering is whatever thou mayest be profited by me;— ⁶ and he may not honour his father or his mother, and ye did set aside the command of God because of your tradition.

Surrounding context — Matthew 15

1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to [his] father or [his] mother, [It is] a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

6 And honour not his father or his mother, [he shall be free]. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

7 [Ye] hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me.

9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.

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HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION

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