Matthew 15:1-2, 10-14

Matthew 15:1-2, 10-14

Some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,

“Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders?

They do not wash their hands when they eat a meal.”

He summoned the crowd and said to them, “Hear and understand.

It is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles the man;

but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one.”

Then his disciples approached and said to him,

“Do you know that the Pharisees took offense

when they heard what you said?”

He said in reply, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted

will be uprooted.

Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind.

If a blind man leads a blind man,

both will fall into a pit.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, open my heart to receive the fullness of your truth. Protect me from the temptation to focus on outward appearances while neglecting the transformation of my heart. Grant me the humility to recognize when my own traditions, preferences, or expectations prevent me from hearing your voice. May your grace purify me from within so that I may worship you in spirit and truth and become a holy dwelling place for your presence.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Tradition of the Elders: The confrontation between the Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem and Jesus underscores the need for new leadership. The Pharisees were concerned with ritual washing and food prohibitions. The original intention of the Pharisees was noble. They thought that rigorous fidelity to the Law of Moses would lead to Israel’s restoration – something promised by Israel’s prophets. The prophets had promised that when Israel repented, God would return to dwell with his people, restore the kingdom, defeat Israel’s enemies, and establish his reign. The Pharisees believed covenant fidelity was an essential part of preparing for this restoration. This led to the build-up of traditional interpretations of the Law. The “tradition of the elders” included practices such as washing your hands before every meal. Once again, the intention was noble. The Pharisees sought to extend to ordinary Israelites the level of ritual purity that had formerly characterized the priests. Their concern for purity laws, tithing, Sabbath observance, and dietary regulations was an attempt to make the entire nation into a holy people, fulfilling Israel’s vocation as “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). Their strict observance was not simply individual morality but preparation for God's decisive intervention in history. By living according to God’s covenant, they hoped Israel would be ready when the Messiah came. 

2. Hear and Understand: The “tradition of the elders” consisted largely of oral interpretations designed to prevent accidental violations of the Mosaic Law. If Scripture forbade certain actions, additional practices served as safeguards. Notice that the Pharisees did not confront Jesus about breaking the Law of Moses, but about his disciples breaking the “tradition of the elders.” Jesus will bring out this contrast in his direct response to the Pharisees: “He said to them in reply, ‘And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition… You have nullified the Word of God for the sake of your tradition. Hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy about you when he said: “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts” (Matthew 15:3-9). The build-up of traditions and the multiplication of rules and norms did not bring about a deeper share in divine, eternal life. After confronting the Pharisees, Jesus wanted the crowds, many of whom revered the Pharisees, to hear his teaching. It is only one line, but the meaning is profound. Jesus said, “Hear and understand. It is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles that person; but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one” (Matthew 15:11). The Pharisees had built up a tradition that focused on ritual purity. In just one line, Jesus shifts the focus to moral purity. 

3. Uprooting Plants: When Jesus’ disciples pointed out that the Pharisees were offended by what Jesus had said about their traditions, Jesus didn’t apologize. Instead, he told two parables to drive home the point. In the first, he compares the “tradition of the elders” to something planted by the Pharisees. In short, these traditions were planted by men, not by our heavenly Father. God the Father, Jesus said, will uproot every “plant” that he has not planted. In the second parable, Jesus compared the Pharisees to blind leaders. He advised his disciples to let the Pharisees alone. They are blind guides of the blind, and they will fall into a pit. Sometimes God allows a person to experience the misery of their sin in an effort to bring them to their senses. How will the Pharisees see? Only through faith in the Son of God and the Sacrament of Baptism. John’s Gospel, in Chapter 9, brings home this point. The Pharisees are spiritually blind but can be healed by Jesus.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are the Light who opens the eyes of the blind and the Truth who sets us free from error. Teach me to hear and understand your words with a humble heart. Remove anything within me that keeps me from following your holy will. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, uproot the thoughts, habits, and desires that do not come from the Father, and lead me into the freedom of true holiness.

Living the Word of God: Are there any traditions, habits, political views, or personal preferences that I value more than the commandments and teachings of God? What comes out of my heart through my words and actions, and what does this reveal about the areas of my life that need Christ’s healing? Where do I need to ask Jesus to open my eyes so that I can see more clearly and follow him as the true guide of my life?