Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 15:3

3 But he answered, and said unto them, Why do you also transgress the commandement of God by your traditions?

Mark hath the same, Ch. 7.9. tho a little of the Order in which Matthew hath it. Full well you reject the Commandement of God, that you may keep your own Traditions. Our Saviour could have answered them, had he pleased more strictly to their Questions, but he must then, either, have incurred Danger, or Odium; he therefore chuseth to answer them by another Question, which struck at the Root of the matter. Admit, saith he, my Disciples culpable in not observing Traditions, which indeed you call the Traditions of the Elders, but are your own, devised by you, or some like you, meerly to uphold your Power and Authority, and to keep People in a needless Subjection to you: I am sure you are far more Guilty, in making Traditions contrary to the Law of God, or rejecting Gods Law, to keep your Traditions: And indeed this is the common Guilt of those, who are great Zealots for Traditions and Rites, not commanded in the word of God. The Jewish Rabbi Iose saith, He sinneth as much, who Eateth with unwashen Hands, as he that lyeth with an Harlot. The Papists make it a greater sin, for a Priest to Marry, than to keep a Concubine; and commit Fornication: They make it a lesser Transgression, than to Eat meat on a Friday.