Matthew 15 · Verse 8

Matthew 15:8

This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Matthew 15:8, King James Version

Matthew 15:8 in other translations

BSB‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.
WEB‘These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
ASVThis people honoreth me with their lips; But their heart is far from me.
YLTThis people doth draw nigh to Me with their mouth, and with the lips it doth honour Me, but their heart is far off from Me;
DARBYThis people honour me with the lips, but their heart is far away from me;
BBEThese people give me honour with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
WebsterThis people draw nigh to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

What does Matthew 15:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, &c.--By putting the commandments of men on a level with the divine requirements, their whole worship was rendered vain--a principle of deep moment in the service of God. "For," it is added in Mr 7:8, "laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups; and many other such like things ye do." The drivelling nature of their multitudinous observances is here pointedly exposed, in contrast with the manly observance of "the commandment of God"; and when our Lord says, "Many other such like things ye do," it is implied that He had but given a specimen of the hideous treatment which the divine law received, and the grasping disposition which, under the mask of piety, was manifested by the ecclesiastics of that day.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 8. Draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, etc. That is, they are regular in the forms of worship. They are strict in ceremonial observances, and keep the law outwardly; but God requires the heart, and that they have not rendered.

Mt 15:1 (f) "This people" Isa 29:13

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 Their heart is far from me - The true worship of God consists in the union of the heart to him - where this exists not, a particle of the spirit of devotion cannot be found. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth - This clause, which is taken from Isa 29:13, is omitted by several excellent MSS., and by several versions and fathers. Erasmus, Mill, Drusius, and Bengel, approve of the omission, and Griesbach has left it out of the text; but as I find it in the prophet, the place from which it is quoted, I dare not omit it, howsoever respectable the above authorities may appear.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 15:1-9

Additions to God's laws reflect upon his wisdom, as if he had left out something which was needed, and which man could supply; in one way or other they always lead men to disobey God. How thankful ought we to be for the written word of God! Never let us think that the religion of the Bible can be improved by any human addition, either in doctrine or practice. Our blessed Lord spoke of their traditions as inventions…

Read the full comment on Matthew 15:1-9 →

Matthew 15:8 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἘγγίζειEngizeidraws nearG1448
μοιmoito meG3165
ὉHo<the>G3588
λαὸςlaospeopleG2992
οὗτοςhoutosthisG3778
τῷtōwith theG3588
στόματιstomatimouthG4750
αὐτῶνautōnof themG846
καὶkaiandG2532
τοῖςtoiswith theG3588
χείλεσίνcheilesinlipsG5491
μεmeMeG3165
τιμᾷ,timait honors,G5091
ἡhētheG3588
δὲdehoweverG1161
καρδίαkardiaheartG2588
αὐτῶνautōnof themG846
πόρρωporrōfar awayG4206
ἀπέχειapecheiis keptG568
ἀπ᾽ap᾽fromG575
ἐμοῦ.emouMe.G1473

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 15:8

  • Isaiah 29:13

    Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

  • Ezekiel 33:31

    And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

  • Acts 8:21

    Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

  • 1 Peter 3:10

    For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

  • Jeremiah 12:2

    Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.

  • Proverbs 23:26

    My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

  • Hebrews 3:12

    Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

  • John 1:47

    Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
draweth.
Isa 29:13; Eze 33:31; Joh 1:47; 1Pe 3:10
but.
Pr 23:26; Jer 12:2; Ac 8:21; Heb 3:12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 15:7

    Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

  • Matthew 15:8

    This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

  • Matthew 15:9

    But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Read all of Matthew 15

Matthew 15:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Este pueblo de labios me honra; mas su corazón lejos está de mí.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		« Ce peuple m’honore des lèvres, mais leur cœur est fort éloigné de moi;
German
Elberfelder 1871		"Dieses Volk ehrt mich mit den Lippen, aber ihr Herz ist weit entfernt von mir.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Populus hic labiis me honorat: cor autem eorum longe est a me.