Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 15:2

"Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread." — Matthew 15:2 (ASV)

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

Why do thy disciples transgress the traditions of the elders? Generally, a good man is held responsible for the acts of his followers. If they cannot find fault with Christ, they will find fault with his disciples, who must have been men of admirable character when even scribes and Pharisees had no worse charge to bring than the following: For they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

The Savior must have been gentle, indeed, to bear with such people as these; it would have given us the fidgets to have such folks around us. Here is he healing the sick, curing the lepers, feeding the hungry, and these people are talking about washing their hands. Oh! How many religious people there are that are occupying their time with nothing of vital importance at all—questions of washing their hands or something of that kind.

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

Would you have thought that grown men could have made it their business to come from Jerusalem down into the country to talk to Christ about the fact that his disciples did not always wash their hands before they ate their breakfasts? Yet, today, we have men who make a great point of what should be done with any of the so-called "consecrated" bread that is left, and who are very concerned about what kind of dress a "priest" should wear when performing certain duties. How sad it is that such trivial matters as these should occupy the minds of immortal beings while people are dying, and God is dishonored!