Meaning of Matthew 15:4

Matthew 15:4 records Jesus quoting from the Old Testament, specifically the Ten Commandments and their elaboration in the Law of Moses, to highlight a conflict between human tradition and divine commandment. Jesus is responding to the Pharisees and scribes who are questioning his disciples for eating with unwashed hands, a ritualistic impurity according to their traditions. By bringing up this passage from Exodus 20:12 and its accompanying penalty from Exodus 21:17 (or Leviticus 20:9), Jesus demonstrates that while the commandment to honor parents is foundational, the religious leaders of his day had devised ways to circumvent their responsibility to care for their parents, often by dedicating resources to temple offerings instead. This reveals a hypocrisy in their practice, prioritizing their man-made rules over God's clear mandate for filial piety and the practical support of one's parents.

Context and Background

This verse appears within a larger discourse in Matthew 15 where Jesus confronts the religious hypocrisy of the Pharisees and scribes. They accused Jesus' disciples of violating their oral traditions regarding ritual purity because they did not wash their hands before eating. Jesus’ response is to challenge their traditions by showing how they often nullify or contradict explicit commandments from God. He quotes the Fifth Commandment, "Honor your father and your mother" (Exodus 20:12), which is part of the Decalogue given at Sinai, and the severe penalty for defying it, "whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death" (Exodus 21:17, also referenced in Leviticus 20:9). This sets the stage for Jesus to expose a specific way their traditions, particularly the concept of Corban (a vow dedicating goods to God), allowed people to avoid their obligations to their parents, effectively making God's commandment void through their interpretations.

Key Themes and Messages

The primary theme is the supremacy of God's commandments over human traditions. Jesus uses this verse to illustrate how man-made religious rules can become a vehicle for disobedience to God. Another key theme is filial responsibility, emphasizing the divine mandate to respect, obey, and provide for one's parents. The severe penalty associated with cursing parents underscores the profound importance God places on this relationship. Finally, the verse highlights hypocrisy within religious leadership, demonstrating how outward piety can mask inward disobedience and a lack of genuine care.

Spiritual Significance and Application

Spiritually, this passage calls believers to examine their own lives and traditions. It challenges us to ensure that our religious practices and interpretations of scripture do not create loopholes for neglecting our fundamental duties, especially those of love, honor, and care for our families. The principle of honoring parents extends beyond mere outward respect; it implies a deep-seated commitment to their well-being. This principle also serves as a foundational aspect of a righteous life, reflecting a proper ordering of our loyalties, with God at the apex, followed by foundational human relationships like family.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This verse is deeply embedded in the biblical narrative of God's covenant with Israel and his expectations for their conduct. The Ten Commandments represent the bedrock of the Mosaic Law, outlining the moral and relational obligations of God's people. Jesus, as the fulfillment of the Law, consistently upheld and re-emphasized these core commandments, often correcting those who distorted them. His quotation here situates the Fifth Commandment within the larger framework of divine law and the consequences of disobedience, underscoring the consistent biblical emphasis on family structure and respect for authority within that structure.

Analogies

One analogy is that of a building's foundation. The commandment to honor parents is like a crucial foundational stone in the structure of a righteous life and a healthy society. Human traditions, when they undermine this foundation, weaken the entire structure. Another analogy is a doctor's prescription. God's commandment is the clear, life-saving prescription. Human traditions, in this context, are like a pharmacist who, through clever interpretation of regulations, provides a substitute that looks similar but is ineffective or even harmful, thereby failing to deliver the intended healing.

Relation to Other Verses

This verse directly relates to Exodus 20:12 and Exodus 21:17, the original sources of the commandments Jesus quotes. It also aligns with the New Testament emphasis on honoring elders and caring for family, such as in 1 Timothy 5:4, which states, "But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should first learn to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repay their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God." Furthermore, Jesus himself, even from the cross, demonstrated profound care for his mother, entrusting her to John's care (John 19:26-27), modeling the very honor he commanded. Paul also reiterates the importance of obedience to parents in Ephesians 6:1-3, linking it to the Lord's approval.