Matthew 15:7

"he shall not honor his father or mother.’ You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition."

Key Reflection

In Matthew 15:7, Jesus confronts the religious leaders for prioritizing their traditions over the commands of God. Specifically, he references Exodus 20:12 and Deuteronomy 5:16, where the fifth commandment clearly instructs honoring one's father and mother. By upholding and teaching their own interpretations that superseded these straightforward commands, the religious leaders nullified God’s direct will, demonstrating a critical tension between divine law and human tradition. This passage highlights how adherence to non-biblical customs can lead to spiritual blindness and disregard for God's explicit directives.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 7. Ye hypocrites. See Barnes "Mt 7:5". Hypocrisy is the concealment of some base principle under the pretence of religion. Never was there a clearer instance of it than this--an attempt to get rid of the duty of providing for needy parents under an appearance of piety towards God. Esaias, That is, Isaiah. This prophecy is found in Isa 29:13. Prophesy of you. That is, he spoke of the people of his day--of the Jews, as Jews--in terms that apply to the whole people. He properly characterized the nation in calling them hypocrites. The words are applicable to the nation at all times, and they apply, therefore, to you.

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