Matthew 15:3 (KJV)

What does Matthew 15:3 mean?

In Matthew 15:3, Jesus challenges religious leaders who accuse his disciples of breaking an established custom. He asks why the leaders themselves break a commandment from God because of their own tradition. His question shifts attention from the disciples’ conduct to the leaders’ treatment of God’s command.

Jesus speaks to Pharisees and scribes, teachers concerned with Jewish religious practices. After their question about handwashing in verse 2, Jesus answers with a question of his own. The word “also” points back to their accusation while turning the challenge toward them.

The Greek behind Matthew 15:3

• “transgress” — παραβαίνω (parabainō): The Greek carries the sense of going beyond a boundary or breaking a rule. Here Jesus uses the word for the leaders’ conduct in relation to God’s commandment.
• “tradition” — παράδοσις (paradosis): The word refers to something handed down. In this exchange, it describes an established teaching or practice passed on among the leaders.

Why Matthew 15:3 matters

• The contrast is between two sources of authority. Jesus calls one a “commandment of God” and the other “your tradition,” identifying where each comes from.
• Jesus makes the charge concrete in the following verses. He points to the command to honor father and mother and to a practice involving a gift dedicated to God, which could be used to withhold help from parents.
• The issue is the effect of the leaders’ teaching, not simply its age. In verse 6, Jesus says that their tradition has made God’s commandment “of none effect.”