Commentaries:
People's Commentary (NT)
Matthew 15:2
Why do thy disciples transgress? Not the law of Moses, but the
tradition of the elders, which had as much authority with the Pharisees
as the written law.
The tradition of the elders. Purported to be precepts never written
in the Scriptures, but handed down from the times of Moses and the
elders by oral means. These precepts were spoken of the "law upon the
lip", and have been embodied in the Talmud. They were additions to the
written word. See Galatians 1:14.
For they wash not their hands. The orthodox Jews insisted on
washing the hands before eating, not to remove the filth, but less they
might have touched something ceremonially unclean. This commandment
was purely traditional, but so rigidly did they insist upon observing
it that the Rabbi Akiba, imprisoned by the Romans and with scarcely
water to sustain life, preferred to use all provided for his ceremonial
ablutions, and to die of thirst.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Matthew 15:2
Matthew 15:13
Matthew 23:4
Mark 7:1
Mark 7:2
Mark 7:5
Luke 11:38
Galatians 1:14
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