Sign in
MATTHEW 15:9 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Matt 15:8Matt 15:10
“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. The worship that is in vain — the ritual observance that does not correspond to the heart's alignment with God's purposes — is the worship that the Pharisees' tradition-teaching produces. Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men is what the tradition-over-commandment practice amounts to: human additions treated as divine requirements.

Church Fathers on Matthew 15:9

The Lord had shewn that the Pharisees were not worthy to accuse those who transgressed the commands of the elders, seeing they overthrew the law of God themselves; and He again proves this by the testimony of the Prophet; 'Hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far frost me.'

Chrysostom · 4th century

Hypocrite signifies dissembler, one who feigns one thing in his outward act, and bears another thing in his heart. These then are well called hypocrites because under cover of God’s honour they sought to heap up for themselves earthly gain.

Remigius · 9th century

Esaias saw before the hypocrisy of the Jews, that they would craftily oppose the Gospel, and therefore he said in the person of the Lord, 'This people honoureth me with their lips, &c.'

Rabanus Maurus · 9th century
Read all 12 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!