With our modern consciousness of hygiene and the danger of infections, we may feel that the Jerusalem scribes had a valid point in criticizing Jesus' disciples for not washing their hands. We cannot, however, project our modern concerns into the past, and in any case the scribes were not concerned about hygiene. They were concerned about religious customs and, ultimately, about their own authority to impose such customs. By not washing their hands in this particular situation, Jesus' disciples were flaunting the scribes' traditions.

The Gospel does not say that it was precisely because they were disciples of Jesus that these men did not keep this religious custom. However, the fact that they were disciples of Jesus seems to have been the important point in the scribes' criticism, for they spoke directly to Jesus and not to the disciples. The tiny matter of not washing hands on a particular occasion, took on tremendous importance. The religious authorities of the time saw this incident as yet another sign that Jesus was subverting the people. The story serves as the basis for Jesus' saying about the blind leading the blind a reminder to us not to impose our prejudices or personal opinions on others.