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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Matthew 15:2–4

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
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?
For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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3 selected · 7 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

15 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 2

  1. Luke 11:38Rank 1 from verse 2
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    38And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.

  2. Mark 7:2Rank 2 from verse 2
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    2And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

  3. Colossians 2:20–23Rank 3 from verse 2
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    20Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

    21(Touch not; taste not; handle not;

    22Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

    23Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

  4. Colossians 2:8Rank 4 from verse 2
    Open

    8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

  5. Mark 7:5Rank 5 from verse 2
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    5Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

From verse 3

  1. Colossians 2:23Rank 1 from verse 3
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    23Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

  2. Titus 1:14Rank 2 from verse 3
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    14Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

  3. Colossians 2:8Rank 3 from verse 3
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    8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

  4. Mark 7:6–8Rank 4 from verse 3
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    6He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

    7Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

    8For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

  5. Mark 7:13Rank 5 from verse 3
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    13Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

From verse 4

  1. Exodus 20:12Rank 1 from verse 4
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    12¶ Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

  2. Exodus 21:17Rank 2 from verse 4
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    17¶ And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

  3. Leviticus 20:9Rank 3 from verse 4
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    9¶ For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.

  4. Deuteronomy 21:18–21Rank 4 from verse 4
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    18¶ If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:

    19Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;

    20And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.

    21And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

  5. Deuteronomy 5:16Rank 5 from verse 4
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    16¶ Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 15:2

COMBINED MEANING

tradition

↗

Teaching or practice handed down from one to another.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Bullokar 1616 · Cawdrey 1604

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wash

↗

To cleanse with water or another liquid; to bathe or cause water to pass over.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hands

↗

Sense 1: The end parts of the arms used for holding and working. Sense 2: Figures of power, possession, agency, or aid.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

eat

↗

To take food into the body; to consume, devour, or waste away.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 15:3

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

answered

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of answer, meaning to reply, respond, or give account.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

ye

↗

The second-person plural subject pronoun, referring to the persons being addressed as those who are, do, or receive the stated predicate.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

commandment

↗

Sense 1: An authoritative command, charge, order, or precept to be obeyed. Sense 2: One of the ten commandments.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

your

↗

The possessive form of ye or you, ordinarily plural, marking what belongs to, concerns, proceeds from, or stands in relation to the persons addressed.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

tradition

↗

Teaching or practice handed down from one to another.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Bullokar 1616 · Cawdrey 1604

DEFINED WORDS

Matthew 15:4

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

honour

↗

Sense 1: Esteem, respect, dignity, glory, distinction, or exalted standing. Sense 2: To esteem, respect, acknowledge, reward, or adorn.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

father

↗

Sense 1: A male parent or begetter. Sense 2: An ancestor, forefather, founder, source, originator, chief, elder, or one bearing paternal authority and care. Sense 3: God as Father, including the Father of Jesus Christ and of those described as his children.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

mother

↗

Sense 1: A female parent. Sense 2: Figuratively, a source, chief city, or maternal relation.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

curseth

↗

Third-person singular present form of curse (to utter a wish of evil against one; to imprecate evil upon; to call for mischief or injury to fall upon; to execrate).

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

let

↗

Sense 1: To allow or permit; in older KJV use, also to hinder or restrain. Sense 2: To lower or send down.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

READ THE PASSAGE

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Suggested context · Matthew 15:1–9

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

15:1THEN came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

15:2Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

Selected passage

15:3But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

Selected passage

15:4For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

Selected passage

15:5But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

15:6And 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.

15:7Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

15:8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

15:9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

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