Matthew 15:13 kjv
But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
Matthew 15:13 nkjv
But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.
Matthew 15:13 niv
He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots.
Matthew 15:13 esv
He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.
Matthew 15:13 nlt
Jesus replied, "Every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be uprooted,
Matthew 15 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 60:21 | Your people will all be righteous; they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot of My planting... | God's people are His planting. |
| Isa 61:3 | ...that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD... | Righteous ones are God's enduring planting. |
| Jer 1:10 | See, I have appointed you this day over nations... to pluck up and to pull down... | God grants authority to root out and tear down. |
| Matt 3:10 | ...Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. | Bearing fruit determines standing; no good fruit leads to removal. |
| Matt 7:17-19 | Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit... Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down... | Discerning false teachers by their fruit/doctrine. |
| Lk 6:43-45 | For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit... By their fruit you will recognize them. | Inner character is revealed by outer actions/teachings. |
| John 15:2 | Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes... | Fruitlessness leads to removal from Christ's vine. |
| Col 2:7-8 | rooted and built up in Him... See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition... | Warns against human traditions not rooted in Christ. |
| Heb 12:15 | ...that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble... | Negative spiritual 'plantings' cause defilement. |
| 1 Cor 3:6-7 | I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. | God is the ultimate source of spiritual growth. |
| 2 Pet 2:1-3 | But false prophets also arose among the people... bring in destructive heresies... | Rise and ultimate destruction of false teachings. |
| Gal 1:8-9 | But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached... | Warnings against alternative, false gospels. |
| Job 18:16 | His roots below dry up, and above his branch withers. | Fate of the wicked: complete decay from root to branch. |
| Ps 1:3-4 | He is like a tree planted by streams of water... But the wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. | The righteous endure like well-planted trees; the wicked are temporary. |
| Prov 2:22 | but the wicked will be cut off from the land... | Wicked will be eradicated from the land of the living. |
| Mk 7:6-9 | ...'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'... | Human traditions making void God's commandments. |
| 1 Tim 4:1-2 | Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons... | Describes the origin of false teachings leading to departure from faith. |
| Rev 22:18-19 | If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described... if anyone takes away... God will take away his share... | Warnings against corrupting God's Word. |
| Jer 12:2 | You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit... but you are far from their conscience. | God questions the superficial flourishing of the wicked. |
| 1 Cor 3:11-15 | For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds... he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. | What is built on an improper foundation will not endure God's judgment. |
Matthew 15 verses
Matthew 15 13 Meaning
Matthew 15:13 is a profound declaration by Jesus, asserting that anything not originating from or established by God, whether a doctrine, tradition, or spiritual endeavor, lacks divine legitimacy and will ultimately be eradicated. This statement highlights God's absolute sovereignty and the perishable nature of human constructs and false teachings that deviate from divine truth.
Matthew 15 13 Context
Matthew 15:13 follows directly from Jesus' encounter with the Pharisees and scribes who challenged His disciples for not observing the tradition of hand-washing before eating. Jesus countered their accusations by highlighting that their traditions nullified God's actual commands (Matt 15:3-9). He then called the crowds and disciples, explaining that true defilement comes not from external things (like unwashed hands) but from the evil thoughts and intentions of the heart (Matt 15:10-11). When the disciples, particularly Peter, did not understand this "parable" (Matt 15:12), Jesus explained further, specifically identifying the Pharisees as "blind guides" and warning against following them (Matt 15:14). Therefore, the "plant" that His Heavenly Father has not planted refers primarily to the man-made religious traditions and false doctrines of the Pharisees, which stood in direct opposition to the pure, divine truth taught by Jesus. This served as a polemic against the legalism and hypocrisy prevalent among the religious authorities of the time, whose teachings had become human constructs rather than divine precepts.
Matthew 15 13 Word analysis
- He answered: Greek: ἀποκριθεὶς (apokritheis). A direct and significant response, showing Jesus' authoritative clarification after Peter's request. It indicates a firm, resolved statement to the disciples.
- Every plant: Greek: πᾶσα φυτεία (pasa phuteia). "Pasa" means "all" or "every," indicating comprehensiveness. "Phyteia" refers to something "planted" or a "planting." In this context, it is a powerful metaphor for teachings, doctrines, systems, or principles that are established or propagated. It specifically applies to the teachings and authority structure of the religious leaders.
- that my heavenly Father: Greek: ὃν οὐκ ἐφύτευσεν ὁ Πατήρ μου ὁ οὐράνιος (hon ouk ephuteusen ho Patēr mou ho ouranios). This phrase grounds the statement in divine origin. "Heavenly Father" emphasizes God's supreme authority and benevolence as the ultimate source of all true spiritual things. What He has not planted, therefore, is illegitimate from a divine perspective.
- has not planted: Greek: οὐκ ἐφύτευσεν (ouk ephuteusen). The crucial negation "not" (οὐκ) distinguishes between divine truth and human invention. It signifies anything that is not divinely initiated, approved, or supported. This includes traditions and interpretations that supersede or twist God's original commands.
- will be pulled up: Greek: ἐκριζωθήσεται (ekrizōthēsetai). This is a strong passive future verb, meaning "to be uprooted completely" or "to be eradicated." It signifies an unavoidable, total removal, implying divine judgment or revelation that leaves nothing of the false "plant" remaining. It's a forceful image of destruction.
- by the roots: This reinforces the completeness of the removal. It's not merely pruned or cut down to regrow; it's completely dislodged, signifying ultimate and final cessation. It denotes an enduring nullification or exposure of its true nature.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted": This phrase sets a definitive theological criterion. It establishes God as the singular source of truth and legitimate spiritual enterprise. Any "plant"—be it a belief, a system of worship, a doctrine, or a tradition—that does not originate from God is inherently flawed and devoid of true life. It draws a stark line between divine authority and human presumptions.
- "will be pulled up by the roots": This powerful imagery speaks to the inevitable and decisive fate of all that is not God-originated. "Pulled up by the roots" signifies complete and permanent eradication. It implies that anything contrary to God's truth has no inherent stability or eternal standing, and God, in His sovereign judgment, will ultimately expose its falseness and remove it entirely, ensuring it cannot sprout again.
Matthew 15 13 Bonus section
- The concept of God "planting" a people or principles is deeply rooted in Old Testament prophetic language (e.g., Isa 61:3; Jer 24:6), where it often signifies His covenant faithfulness and purpose.
- Jesus' declaration here functions as a prophetic warning regarding the future of the false teachings of the Jewish leadership, many of which would ultimately lead to their spiritual downfall.
- This verse undergirds the importance of discerning truth from error and points to the enduring nature only of what is truly divine. It emphasizes that ultimate validity comes solely from God's establishment, not human longevity or widespread acceptance.
- The "pulling up" implies both a public exposure of error and a divine act of judgment that purifies or separates.
Matthew 15 13 Commentary
Matthew 15:13 serves as a pivotal spiritual principle, articulating Jesus' divine authority and His assessment of religious practices. In its immediate context, the "plant" refers primarily to the meticulously maintained oral traditions and legalistic interpretations of the Pharisees that they held as divine but which were in direct opposition to the spirit of God's commands. Jesus asserts that these human-invented traditions, which distorted genuine faith into outward ritualism, were not rooted in God and thus would not endure. The imagery of being "pulled up by the roots" emphasizes total demolition and cessation. It's a warning that anything not grounded in divine truth, even if it appears righteous or established, is destined to fail and be completely undone by God. This principle extends beyond the Pharisees, applying to any doctrine, belief system, or personal conviction that is not directly aligned with God's word and His Spirit. It compels believers to critically examine the origins of their faith practices and teachings, ensuring they are from the "Heavenly Father." It teaches the fleeting nature of man's endeavors when disconnected from divine purpose, ultimately ensuring the triumph of God's truth alone.