Matthew 15:5 - But you say, ‘Whoever may tell his father or his mother, “Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God,”
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What does "Matthew 15:5" mean?
This verse, Matthew 15:5, is part of a larger passage in which Jesus is rebuking the Pharisees and scribes for their hypocrisy. Let's break it down:
"But you say...": This highlights that Jesus is addressing a specific teaching or practice of the Pharisees.
"Whoever may tell his father or his mother...": This introduces the scenario: a person telling their parents something.
"Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God...": This is the core of the problem. The person is declaring that any financial or practical assistance they could have provided to their parents is now dedicated to God ("Corban," in some translations, means dedicated gift). In other words, they're saying, "I can't help you, Mom and Dad, because I've vowed this money/service to God."
Meaning in Context:
The Pharisees were teaching that a person could avoid their responsibility to care for their aging parents by making a religious vow to dedicate their resources to the Temple or to God. This allowed them to look pious while neglecting a clear commandment to honor their father and mother (Exodus 20:12).
In essence, Jesus is accusing the Pharisees of:
Prioritizing a man-made tradition over God's commandment: They were using a loophole in their interpretation of the law to bypass a fundamental moral obligation.
Hypocrisy: They were appearing religious on the outside while being selfish and uncaring on the inside.
Invalidating the Word of God: Their tradition was effectively nullifying the clear command to honor parents.
Modern Application:
While the specific practice of "Corban" might not be prevalent today, the underlying principle is still relevant. This verse can be a warning against:
Using religious obligations as an excuse to avoid personal responsibilities.
Prioritizing outward displays of piety over genuine love and compassion.
Interpreting religious texts in a way that justifies selfishness or neglect.
In simple terms, Jesus is saying you can't hide behind religion to avoid taking care of your family and fulfilling your responsibilities. True faith is shown through actions, not just words.
Matthew 15:5 - But you say, ‘Whoever may tell his father or his mother, “Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God,”
What does "Matthew 15:5" mean?
This verse, Matthew 15:5, is part of a larger passage in which Jesus is rebuking the Pharisees and scribes for their hypocrisy. Let's break it down:
"But you say...": This highlights that Jesus is addressing a specific teaching or practice of the Pharisees.
"Whoever may tell his father or his mother...": This introduces the scenario: a person telling their parents something.
"Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God...": This is the core of the problem. The person is declaring that any financial or practical assistance they could have provided to their parents is now dedicated to God ("Corban," in some translations, means dedicated gift). In other words, they're saying, "I can't help you, Mom and Dad, because I've vowed this money/service to God."
Meaning in Context:
The Pharisees were teaching that a person could avoid their responsibility to care for their aging parents by making a religious vow to dedicate their resources to the Temple or to God. This allowed them to look pious while neglecting a clear commandment to honor their father and mother (Exodus 20:12).
In essence, Jesus is accusing the Pharisees of:
Prioritizing a man-made tradition over God's commandment: They were using a loophole in their interpretation of the law to bypass a fundamental moral obligation.
Hypocrisy: They were appearing religious on the outside while being selfish and uncaring on the inside.
Invalidating the Word of God: Their tradition was effectively nullifying the clear command to honor parents.
Modern Application:
While the specific practice of "Corban" might not be prevalent today, the underlying principle is still relevant. This verse can be a warning against:
Using religious obligations as an excuse to avoid personal responsibilities.
Prioritizing outward displays of piety over genuine love and compassion.
Interpreting religious texts in a way that justifies selfishness or neglect.
In simple terms, Jesus is saying you can't hide behind religion to avoid taking care of your family and fulfilling your responsibilities. True faith is shown through actions, not just words.