Matthew 15 6

Matthew 15:6 kjv

And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

Matthew 15:6 nkjv

then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.

Matthew 15:6 niv

they are not to 'honor their father or mother' with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

Matthew 15:6 esv

he need not honor his father.' So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.

Matthew 15:6 nlt

In this way, you say they don't need to honor their parents. And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition.

Matthew 15 verses

Matthew 15 6 Meaning

Matthew 15:6 highlights Jesus' strong condemnation of the religious leaders for their hypocrisy. They were shown to be using human-made traditions and loopholes to invalidate and avoid the direct commandment of God to honor and care for one's parents. This action, dressed up as piety (dedicating resources to God), directly contradicted and nullified the higher divine law, exposing their external show of devotion as inwardly false and self-serving.

Matthew 15 6 Context

Matthew 15:6 occurs within a confrontational dialogue between Jesus and the Pharisees and scribes who had traveled from Jerusalem. The immediate context begins in Matthew 15:1-2, where these religious leaders challenge Jesus’ disciples for breaking the "tradition of the elders" by not ceremonially washing their hands before eating. This tradition was not a biblical commandment but a human-made ritual, given the same or even greater authority by the Pharisees as the written Law. Jesus responds by directly countering their accusation with a far more serious charge: that they themselves invalidate God’s divine commandment for the sake of their own human traditions (Mt 15:3). He uses the specific example of honoring parents (Mt 15:4) versus their "Corban" vow (Mt 15:5-6) to illustrate their hypocrisy. This discussion flows into Jesus' wider teaching on what truly defiles a person (Mt 15:10-20), shifting the focus from external rules to the internal condition of the heart. The historical context reveals that "Corban" (קָרְבָּן, qorbān, "offering, devoted gift") was a Jewish custom where an individual could vow to dedicate property or assets to God, making it sacrosanct and thus supposedly unavailable for other uses, including supporting one's aging parents. While seemingly pious, the Pharisees' interpretation created a loophole to avoid basic familial responsibilities, prioritizing a man-made interpretation of a vow over a direct divine command. This practice reflected their larger issue of valuing legalistic external compliance over the spirit of the Law and true compassion.

Matthew 15 6 Word analysis

• "Thus" (οὕτως - houtōs): This adverb acts as a connector, directly linking the prior statement about making "the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition" to the specific example that follows. It signifies "in this way," demonstrating precisely how they render God's law invalid.
• "you nullify" (ἀκυροῦτε - akūroūte): The Greek verb means to make void, abrogate, deprive of authority or validity, or cancel. It’s a strong term indicating active disempowerment. It conveys that the Pharisees' actions were not just neglecting but actively undermining the divine commandment, stripping it of its power and applicability through their human-made rules.
• "the commandment" (τὴν ἐντολὴν - tēn entolēn): Refers to a specific, divine injunction or order, contrasted starkly with human "tradition." Jesus emphasizes the direct, unambiguous nature of God's word.
• "of God" (τοῦ Θεοῦ - tou Theou): Highlights the supreme, unchangeable origin and authority of the commandment. It underscores that what they are nullifying comes directly from the Divine, making their actions even more egregious.
• "for the sake of your tradition" (διὰ τὴν παράδοσιν ὑμῶν - dia tēn paradosin hymōn): This phrase exposes the motivation and means of their nullification.
  • "for the sake of" (διὰ - dia): Indicates the purpose or reason behind their actions.
  • "your tradition" (τὴν παράδοσιν ὑμῶν - tēn paradosin hymōn): Paradosis literally means "that which is handed down." In this context, it refers to the body of oral laws, interpretations, and customs developed by the elders (later compiled in the Mishnah). Jesus specifically names it "their tradition," distinguishing it sharply from God's law. This phrase acts as a direct polemic against their system, revealing it as self-serving rather than truly God-honoring.
• "Whoever insults father or mother" (ὁ κακολογῶν πατέρα ἢ μητέρα - ho kakologōn patera ē mētera): Taken from Ex 21:17 (LXX), the Greek word kakologōn (cursing, reviling, speaking evil of) signifies not merely verbal abuse but active contempt and dishonor, which in Mosaic Law carried the death penalty. Jesus evokes this serious consequence to underscore the gravity of disrespecting parents. This contrasts with the seemingly lighter sin of neglect caused by the "Corban" vow, yet demonstrates that even neglecting a parent's needs is a profound violation of the Fifth Commandment.
• "it is a gift given to God by me" (δῶρον, ὃ ἐὰν ἐξ ἐμοῦ ὠφεληθῇς - dōron, ho ean ex emou ōfelēthēs): This complex phrase captures the essence of the "Corban" vow.
  • "gift" (δῶρον - dōron): Refers to something consecrated to God.
  • "given to God by me" (ἐξ ἐμοῦ - ex emou): Specifically identifies the one making the vow, placing a self-imposed sacred obligation. The structure indicates that any benefit (ōfelēthēs) that might come from me is considered "Corban."
  • The practice meant declaring one's possessions or potential support "Corban" (devoted to God), rendering them legally unavailable for others, even needy parents. This made providing for parents a violation of a religious vow.
• "not honour his father and mother" (οὐ μὴ τιμήσει τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ [ἢ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ] - ou mē timēsei ton patera autou [ē tēn mētera autou]): This phrase reveals the outcome of their "Corban" teaching. The result of their tradition is the direct opposite of what God commanded, leading to open disregard for the commandment. "Not honor" signifies neglecting their physical needs and respectful care.
• "Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition." (καὶ ἠκυρώσατε τὴν ἐντολὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ διὰ τὴν παράδοσιν ὑμῶν. - kai ēkyrōsate tēn entolēn tou Theou dia tēn paradosin hymōn.): This is the final, climactic indictment. It acts as a summary condemnation, repeating and emphasizing the severe charge. The slight change from "your tradition" in v.3 to "the word of God" (logon tou Theou) in some manuscripts of v.6 and Mk 7:13 intensifies the gravity by directly stating they nullify God's very word. The use of "commandment" (entolē) or "word" (logos) both signify the divine standard that was actively abrogated. This highlights the dangers of elevating human rules above God's divine revelation, demonstrating a corrupted system of righteousness that prioritizes outward performance over inner obedience and compassion.

Matthew 15 6 Bonus section

• The Conflict of Authority: This verse clearly establishes a conflict between two authoritative sources: "the commandment of God" (or "the word of God" as sometimes rendered) and "your tradition." Jesus leaves no doubt about which takes precedence, aligning Himself definitively with divine revelation over human invention when the two are in opposition.
• Distortion of Piety: The concept of "Corban" was originally intended as a devout act of dedicating something to God. However, in the Pharisees' hands, it became a perversion—a means to appear more holy while simultaneously neglecting fundamental human and divine responsibilities. This exposes the danger of using religious forms or vocabulary to rationalize ungodly behavior.
• The Weightier Matters: This passage resonates deeply with Jesus' other criticisms of the Pharisees regarding neglecting "the weightier matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness" (Mt 23:23). Caring for one's parents falls squarely within the realm of justice and mercy, demonstrating that God prioritizes genuine care and love over external, man-made rituals.
• Applicability Today: This passage challenges believers to examine their own practices. Do we elevate church customs, denominational rules, or even personal convictions above clear biblical mandates, especially concerning compassion, family, or basic integrity? The warning is against any form of spiritualized escapism from responsibility or a legalistic interpretation that diminishes love and truth.

Matthew 15 6 Commentary

Matthew 15:6 serves as a powerful indictment from Jesus against the hypocrisy and misplaced priorities of the religious elite. By using the Corban vow as an example, Jesus exposed how the Pharisees and scribes valued their intricate, self-made legal traditions more than God's clear, fundamental commandments. The commandment to "honor your father and your mother" (Ex 20:12) was foundational, rooted in the very character of God who established familial responsibility. Yet, through their convoluted "Corban" practice, they found a "religious" way to evade this divine duty, appearing pious while neglecting vulnerable parents.

Jesus highlights that their religion was merely outward show, concerned with human rules and prestige rather than genuine devotion and compassion springing from a transformed heart. This was not a critique of all tradition, but of tradition that supplants God’s word and abrogates true obedience. Their actions nullified the spirit and intent of God's Law. This passage teaches us the critical lesson that true worship involves obedience from the heart, practicing justice, mercy, and faithfulness, rather than rigidly adhering to external rites or creating loopholes to escape moral and familial responsibilities under a guise of religiosity.