Matthew 15:9

OLBGrk;

Ver. 7-9. The Greek is, didaskontev didaskaliav, teaching doctrines, the commandments of men. Ye hypocrites, who put on an outward vizard or appearance of holiness, but have nothing in your hearts of true and severe piety, well did Isaiah prophesy of you: Isaiah spake to the Jews that were then in being, but what he then said of your forefathers that lived in his age, is true of you who are their children. Saying, This people, &c. The evangelist doth not quote the words of the prophet exactly, but his sense, and teacheth us this lesson, That whatsoever outward show and profession of religion be in and upon men, if their hearts be not right with God, and what they outwardly do proceed not from an inward principle of faith, love, and obedience in and to God, they are but hypocrites. In vain do they worship me, &c.; that is, idly, and unprofitably, and to no purpose: I will not account what they do. Teaching doctrines, the commandments of men: he means in the worship of God, for other commandments of men are not the preacher's texts, nor doth he here mean by commandments of men such as backed the commandments of God, and only served to enforce them, but such as he had been speaking of, human traditions, of which God had said nothing, as washing of hands; or such traditions as enervated the commandments of God; such were the last mentioned.