Book of Matthew - Chapter 15 - Verse 3

In this verse, Jesus is confronting the religious leaders of his time who had placed their traditions above the commandments of God. The Pharisees and scribes had created a system of rules and regulations that they believed were just as important, if not more so, than the laws given by God. Jesus is pointing out the hypocrisy and error in their ways, as they were more concerned with following their own traditions rather than obeying God's will. By questioning their actions, Jesus is challenging them to reflect on the true intent of the commandments and the importance of following them with a sincere heart. This serves as a reminder for believers to prioritize God's word above man-made traditions and rituals, emphasizing the importance of aligning our actions with the teachings of Scripture.

When examining the theological interpretation of the verse "But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?", it is important to understand the context in which Jesus is speaking. In this passage, Jesus is addressing the Pharisees who had come to question him about his disciples not following the tradition of washing their hands before eating. Jesus responds by calling out the Pharisees for prioritizing human tradition over the commandments of God. This highlights the theme of religious legalism and the danger of placing man-made rules above the principles of God. Through this interaction, Jesus emphasizes the importance of true obedience to God's commandments rather than blindly following traditions created by humans. This verse serves as a reminder to all believers to focus on the heart of God's teachings rather than getting caught up in religious rituals and traditions.