Matthew 15 4

Matthew 15:4 kjv

For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

Matthew 15:4 nkjv

For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'

Matthew 15:4 niv

For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.'

Matthew 15:4 esv

For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.'

Matthew 15:4 nlt

For instance, God says, 'Honor your father and mother,' and 'Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.'

Matthew 15 verses

Matthew 15 4 Meaning

Matthew 15:4 serves as a foundational verse where Jesus quotes two explicit commands from the Old Testament Law given by God regarding filial piety: the positive command to "Honor your father and your mother" and the severe consequence for its opposite, "He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death." This verse underscores God's supreme authority and the profound importance He places on the parent-child relationship, using it to expose the hypocrisy of religious traditions that circumvent divine commandments.

Matthew 15 4 Context

Matthew 15:4 is situated within a confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees and scribes who have come from Jerusalem. The immediate context (Matthew 15:1-3) reveals their challenge to Jesus: His disciples violate the "tradition of the elders" by not ritually washing their hands before eating. Jesus, however, deftly turns their accusation back on them, asking why they break God's commandment for the sake of their tradition. Matthew 15:4 provides the concrete example of how their human traditions—specifically the "Corban" practice (as explained more fully in Mark 7:11-12)—rendered God's clear command to honor and support one's parents null and void. Historically, "Corban" (Hebrew: qorbān, meaning "an offering") allowed a person to dedicate property or money to God, thereby making it "unusable" for other purposes, even if it meant neglecting their parents. This practice, sanctioned by religious leaders, directly contravened the spirit and letter of the Fifth Commandment and the severe penalties for filial disrespect outlined in the Torah. The polemic is direct: Jesus is arguing that their man-made rules and interpretations actively undermine divine law, exposing their superficial piety and self-serving legalism.

Matthew 15 4 Word analysis

• For (γὰρ - gar): A conjunctive particle, meaning "for" or "because." It introduces the reason or explanation for Jesus' counter-accusation in the preceding verse (Mt 15:3). It shows that God's command is the foundational argument.
• God (ὁ θεὸς - ho theos): Refers to the one, true, living God. Emphasizes the ultimate source of the command, setting it in direct contrast to human traditions.
• commanded (ἐνετείλατο - eneteilato): A strong verb from ἐντέλλω (entellō), meaning "to give an authoritative order, charge, instruct, enjoin." It highlights the divine imperative nature of the instruction, not merely a suggestion or custom.
• saying (λέγων - legōn): Present participle of λέγω (legō), "to say, speak." Introduces the direct quotation of God's specific commands from the Old Testament.
• ‘Honor (Τίμα - Tima): Imperative verb from τιμάω (timaō), "to value, show respect to, care for, support, provide for, cherish." It denotes not only reverence but also practical, material support and esteem for parents. This goes beyond mere politeness to include active provision in old age or need, a point crucial to the "Corban" dispute.
• your father and your mother (τὸν πατέρα σου καὶ τὴν μητέρα σου - ton patera sou kai tēn mētera sou): A specific, direct, and universal injunction to show filial reverence. It encompasses the most basic unit of societal and familial structure ordained by God.
• ’ and (Καὶ - Kai): A simple conjunction, connecting the positive command with the ensuing negative command, presenting them as two facets of the same divine requirement.
• ‘He who curses (Ὁ κακολογῶν - Ho kakologōn): A participle of κακολογέω (kakologeō), literally "to speak evil" of someone, hence "to malign, abuse, revile, speak against, curse." In this context, deriving from the Hebrew sources (Exod 21:17; Lev 20:9), it means treating parents with such utter contempt and malice, even wishing harm upon them, that it represents a deep rejection of their authority and value. It often implies a refusal to acknowledge their right to honor or support, tying into the issue of neglecting elderly parents.
• father or mother (πατέρα ἢ μητέρα - patera ē mētera): The specific individuals whose dignity and divinely ordained position must not be undermined or cursed.
• let him be put to death (θανάτῳ τελευτάτω - thanatō teleutatō): An emphatic and solemn idiom directly translating the Hebrew construction "he shall surely die" (מות יומת - mot yumath). This imperative underscores the extreme gravity of the sin of cursing or maliciously dishonoring parents in the eyes of God and under the Mosaic Law. It signals that this offense was not merely a social misstep but a violation of divine order meriting the severest earthly penalty.

Matthew 15 4 Bonus section

• The conflict between divine "commandment" (ἐντολή - entolē) and human "tradition" (παράδοσις - paradosis) is a major theme throughout Jesus' ministry, not just limited to this encounter. Jesus consistently prioritizes the divine word.
• Matthew's use of "θανάτῳ τελευτάτω" is a direct Septuagintal (Greek Old Testament) rendering of the strong Hebrew legal idiom "mot yumath," emphasizing the literal adherence to the prescribed penalty and affirming the Old Testament's authority.
• Jesus’ citation here is a strategic example of how He both fulfills and upholds the Law (Matt 5:17-18), showing that His ministry does not negate the enduring ethical commands of the Torah. He distinguishes between the divine Law and corrupt human interpretations of it.
• The phrase "cursing" implies not just verbal abuse but a fundamental act of defiance and malevolence against those to whom honor is due, indicating a heart rebellion against divine order.

Matthew 15 4 Commentary

In Matthew 15:4, Jesus powerfully uses God's direct commandments to dismantle the Pharisees' self-serving traditions. By quoting the fifth commandment ("Honor your father and your mother") and the severe penalty for its violation ("He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death"), Jesus highlights the paramount importance God places on honoring parents, which includes practical care. The Pharisees, through their "Corban" tradition, created a loophole allowing individuals to evade financial responsibility for their aging parents under the guise of piety, effectively rendering God's command void for their own convenience. Jesus exposes this as profound hypocrisy: preferring human-made rules over the clear, moral demands of God's Word. The Mosaic Law's death penalty for cursing parents underscores the sacredness of the parent-child relationship in God's eyes; it's an offense against God Himself and the foundational order of society. This verse teaches that true devotion involves obeying the heart of God's Law, especially regarding love and duty within the family, rather than prioritizing external rituals or self-justifying interpretations. For example, valuing attendance at religious functions above providing for a struggling parent, or using religious donations as an excuse to neglect family needs, would echo the Pharisees' error.