As before, the ground of complaint was His disregard of the traditional precepts that encumbered the law of God. These were professedly designed to guard the observance of the law, but they were regarded as more sacred than the law itself. When they came in collision with the commandments given from Sinai, preference was given to the rabbinical precepts.

Ligesom tidligere var grundlaget for klagen Jesu ligegyldighed over for de overleverede forskrifter, som Guds lov var belemret med. Disse var efter sigende bestemt til at vogte lovens overholdelse, men de blev betragtet som mere hellige end loven selv. Hvis de kom i modstrid med de bud, som blev givet på Sinaj, havde rabbinernes forskrifter fortrinet.