Matthew 15:4 - For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16 and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’ Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9
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What does "Matthew 15:4" mean?
Matthew 15:4 is part of a larger argument Jesus is making against the Pharisees and scribes. Let's break down what this verse means in its context:
The Context:
The Issue: The Pharisees and scribes were criticizing Jesus' disciples for not following the "tradition of the elders" – specifically, the tradition of ritual hand washing before eating.
Jesus' Response: Jesus accuses them of hypocrisy. He says they prioritize their own traditions above God's commandments.
The Meaning of Matthew 15:4
In this context, Matthew 15:4 serves as the first part of Jesus's argument. It highlights the importance of honoring one's parents by quoting the 5th commandment (Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16). He then strengthens this command by adding the consequences of dishonoring one's parents: death. This is quoted from Exodus 21:17 and Leviticus 20:9.
Emphasis on Divine Command: Jesus is emphasizing that honoring parents isn't just a suggestion; it's a direct command from God. The weight of the Old Testament law is behind it.
Illustrating the Severity of Neglect: The death penalty for cursing or striking a parent underscores the importance and seriousness of this commandment within the Jewish law.
Setting up the Hypocrisy Argument: After establishing the importance of honoring parents, Jesus will then accuse the Pharisees and scribes of violating this commandment through their "Corban" tradition (explained in Matthew 15:5-6).
Key Takeaways
Jesus uses the commandment to honor parents as a baseline for proper devotion to God's law.
The death penalty attached to the violation of the commandment emphasized that dishonoring one's parents was a grave offense in God's eyes.
Matthew 15:4 is the first step in Jesus's argument that the Pharisees were prioritizing their own traditions over God's clear commands.
Matthew 15:4 - For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16 and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’ Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9
What does "Matthew 15:4" mean?
Matthew 15:4 is part of a larger argument Jesus is making against the Pharisees and scribes. Let's break down what this verse means in its context:
The Context:
The Issue: The Pharisees and scribes were criticizing Jesus' disciples for not following the "tradition of the elders" – specifically, the tradition of ritual hand washing before eating.
Jesus' Response: Jesus accuses them of hypocrisy. He says they prioritize their own traditions above God's commandments.
The Meaning of Matthew 15:4
In this context, Matthew 15:4 serves as the first part of Jesus's argument. It highlights the importance of honoring one's parents by quoting the 5th commandment (Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16). He then strengthens this command by adding the consequences of dishonoring one's parents: death. This is quoted from Exodus 21:17 and Leviticus 20:9.
Emphasis on Divine Command: Jesus is emphasizing that honoring parents isn't just a suggestion; it's a direct command from God. The weight of the Old Testament law is behind it.
Illustrating the Severity of Neglect: The death penalty for cursing or striking a parent underscores the importance and seriousness of this commandment within the Jewish law.
Setting up the Hypocrisy Argument: After establishing the importance of honoring parents, Jesus will then accuse the Pharisees and scribes of violating this commandment through their "Corban" tradition (explained in Matthew 15:5-6).
Key Takeaways
Jesus uses the commandment to honor parents as a baseline for proper devotion to God's law.
The death penalty attached to the violation of the commandment emphasized that dishonoring one's parents was a grave offense in God's eyes.
Matthew 15:4 is the first step in Jesus's argument that the Pharisees were prioritizing their own traditions over God's clear commands.