in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
One great design of Christ's coming, was, to set aside the ceremonial law which God made, and to put an end to it; to make way for which he begins with the ceremonial law which men had made, and added to the law of God's making, and discharges his disciples from the obligation of that; which here he doth fully, upon occasion of the offence...
Commenting on Mark 7:1-23
Howbeit, in vain do they worship me,.... This is the continuation of the citation out of Isaiah, as is also what follows: teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. As all these traditions mentioned were such; as washing their hands before they ate bread, and their whole bodies, when they came from the market, or from any court of judicature, or concourse of men, where...
Verse 7. For doctrines. For commands of God binding on the conscience. Imposing your traditions as equal in authority to the commands of God.