THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
Hypocrites, Isaiah spoke truthfully about you when he declared, ‘These people come to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, yet their hearts are far removed from Me; their worship is empty, and they teach human precepts as doctrines’ (Matthew 15:7-9). It is important to notice that when the Lord wishes to eliminate a command, He typically approaches it through a rebuke, and that is precisely what He did here. He does not directly address the wrongdoing committed, nor does He claim it is inconsequential, as that would only embolden their defiance. Instead, He first strikes at their arrogance, presenting a far graver sin for consideration, and places it squarely on their heads.
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He refrains from affirming that those who break the law act rightly, as that would enable them to charge Him with wrongdoing; nor does He criticize the actions of His disciples, as that might endorse the law they were scrutinizing. He also does not admonish the elders outright as people of lawlessness (for if He had, the Pharisees would have distanced themselves from Him as a critic). Rather than take this route, He opts for a different approach, seemingly reprimanding those who came to Him, while actually addressing the ones who established these regulations.
He does not mention the elders directly, but in the denouncement aimed at some, He disqualifies others, revealing that they are doubly culpable for not adhering to God's commands while catering to people’s approval. It is as if He conveys, ‘The practice of following the elders has led you astray.’ Though He does not articulate it in these direct words, His subsequent response makes this message clear: Why do you also violate the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? God ordained: Honor your father and mother; and: Anyone who speaks ill of father or mother must be put to death. Yet you argue, ‘If anyone tells his father or mother, what you would have received from me is a gift, then he need not honor his father or mother,’ thus nullifying the word of God for the sake of your tradition (Matthew 15:3-6). The Lord did not refer to ‘the tradition of the elders’ but rather to ‘your tradition’; He did not say, ‘the elders say’ but ‘you say,’ softening His remarks. The scribes and Pharisees aimed to prove that His disciples were violating the law; conversely, Christ demonstrates that it is they who transgress, absolving the disciples of blame. Human ordinances do not equate to divine law, and thus, He labels it a tradition, especially not the ordinances imposed by those lacking authority.
Following His stern admonishment, He expands His discourse, as He often does, by invoking Scripture to validate His stance, indicating His alignment with God. What does the prophet declare? These people honor Me with their lips, yet their hearts are distant from Me; their worship is hollow as they teach human commandments as doctrines (Isaiah 29:13). Can you see how the prophecy aligns perfectly with the words of Jesus and how it previously condemned the unrighteousness of the Jews? What Christ now judges was earlier articulated by Isaiah; that is, the Jews had disregarded God's commands. They honor Me in vain,’ he states, ‘while diligently teaching human commandments as doctrine. Thus, it is just that the disciples do not adhere to these regulations.