Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 15:3

"And he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?" — Matthew 15:3 (ASV)

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

He answered their question by asking another, in which he drew the contrast between transgressing the tradition of the elders and transgressing the commandment of God.

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

He did not deign to answer their question, but posed them with another.

He answered their question by asking them another. This was a very common method for our Lord, and we may often imitate Him in discussions with argumentative people. Our Lord turns a blaze of light upon them with the question: Why do you transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? What is a tradition when compared with a commandment?

What is a tradition when it conflicts with a commandment? What are elders in comparison with God? Our Lord knew best how to handle these messengers of the evil powers. His question carried the war into their own territory and turned their boastful assault into an utter rout.