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Matthew 15:1–3

Tradition and Commandment

1 aThen some Pharisees and scribes * came to Jesus bfrom Jerusalem and said,

2 “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they ado not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

3 And He answered and said to them, Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?

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Matthew 15:1–3 — The New International Version (NIV)

Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”

Jesus replied, And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?

Matthew 15:1–3 — English Standard Version (ESV)

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” He answered them, And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?

Matthew 15:1–3 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

Matthew 15:1–3 — New Living Translation (NLT)

Some Pharisees and teachers of religious law now arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. They asked him, “Why do your disciples disobey our age-old tradition? For they ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat.”

Jesus replied, And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God?

Matthew 15:1–3 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

He answered and said to them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?

Matthew 15:1–3 — New Century Version (NCV)

Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem. They asked him, “Why don’t your followers obey the unwritten laws which have been handed down to us? They don’t wash their hands before they eat.”

Jesus answered, “And why do you refuse to obey God’s command so that you can follow your own teachings?

Matthew 15:1–3 — American Standard Version (ASV)

Then there come to Jesus from Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. And he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?

Matthew 15:1–3 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

Then the scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem come up to Jesus, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress what has been delivered by the ancients? for they do not wash their hands when they eat bread. But he answering said to them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God on account of your traditional teaching?

Matthew 15:1–3 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Then some Pharisees and experts in Moses’ Teachings came from Jerusalem to Jesus. They asked, “Why do your disciples break the traditions of our ancestors? They do not wash their hands before they eat.” 

He answered them, “Why do you break the commandment of God because of your traditions?

Matthew 15:1–3 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Then Pharisees and scribes came from Jerusalem to Jesus and asked, “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat!”

He answered them, And why do you break God’s commandment because of your tradition?

Matthew 15:1–3 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat.” He answered them, And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?

Matthew 15:1–3 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat a meal.” So he answered and said to them, “Why do you also break the commandment of God because of your tradition?

Matthew 15:1–3 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

Some Pharisees and some teachers of the law came from Jerusalem to see Jesus. They asked, “Why don’t your disciples obey what the elders teach? Your disciples don’t wash their hands before they eat!”

Jesus replied, “And why don’t you obey God’s command? You would rather follow your own teachings!


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