Matthew 15:9 - Forerunner Commentary

Matthew 15:9

7 ^aHypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

8 ‘These^a people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.

9 And in vain they worship Me,
^aTeaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

10 ^aWhen He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand:

11 ^aNot what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

13 But He answered and said, ^a“Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.

14 Let them alone. ^aThey are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

15 ^aThen Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”

16 So Jesus said, ^a“Are you also still without understanding?

Verse Comparison: Matthew 15:9

American Standard Version
But in vain do they worship me, Teaching `as their' doctrines the precepts of men.

Amplified® Bible
Uselessly do they worship Me, for they teach as doctrines the commands of men.

Contemporary English Version
It is useless for you to worship me, when you teach rules made up by humans."

Darby English Version
but in vain do they worship me, teaching [as] teachings commandments of men.

Good News Bible
It is no use for them to worship me, because they teach human rules as though they were my laws!' "

International Standard Version
Their worship of me is empty, because they teach human rules as doctrines.'"

King James Version
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

New American Standard Bible
`BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'"

New International Version
They worship me in vain;
their teachings are but rules taught by men.'"

New King James Version
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.""

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'"

Young's Literal Translation
and in vain do they worship Me, teaching teachings -- commands of men.'

New English Translation
and they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”¹