Matthew 15:7-9

Ye hypocrites, &c.— See note on Isaiah 29:13. In St. Mark, our Lord makes this citation at the beginning of his discourse, Mark 7:6. Possibly therefore he cited and applied it twice; first, at the beginning, as St. Mark tells us; and having proved that it was truly applicable to the Scribes and Pharisees, he applied it again at the conclusion of his argument, asSt. Matthew affirms. We have several examples of the like repetitions in the Gospels. See Mark 10:6 compared with Matthew 19:4.; ch. Matthew 24:5 compared with Matthew 15:11; Matthew 15:24.; and Luke 22:18 compared with Matthew 26:29. Dr. Doddridge renders the last clause of Matthew 15:9. While they teach doctrines that are human injunctions, the mere precepts of men, which have no stamp of divine authority upon them.