As usual, the pharisees and scribes were trying to find fault with Jesus by attacking those closest to him, his disciples, but were surprised with his response when he pointed out they were the ones who needed correction.
Matthew 15:1 Then the scribes and pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying :2 Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.
:3 He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?
:4 For God commanded, saying, honor your father and your mother; and He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.
:5 But you say 'Whoever says to his father or mother "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God"
:6 'Then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.
The pharisees are saying if your parents have received any profit, or gifts from you it is a gift unto God and you no longer have to honor your father or mother because they have already profited from you. This was not the way God intended the commandment, He intended it to be used and followed throughout one's life to honor and respect those who brought life to you. And doing so you will receive a blessing
As stated in Ephesians 1:2-3 Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.
The pharisees were telling Jesus 'Your disciples are defiled because they do not wash their hands before they eat bread.' After Jesus brought a counter claim against the pharisees he then added
Matthew 15:11 "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man."
:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.
:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
:20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with un-washed hands does not defile a man.
The pharisees were more concerned with a man's outward appearance and the way he handled himself. They were very well mannered and behaved people who were at the top of the social class. But Jesus was not concerned with man's outward appearance but with his heart. He wanted to push the point mannerism is not righteousness but what comes out of a man determines if he is a righteous person.
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