King James Version
What Does Matthew 15:4 Mean?
“For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.”
Context
2
Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
3
But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
4
For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
5
But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
6
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.
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(4) **God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and thy mother.**—At first it might seem as if our Lord Himself, no less than the Pharisees, had taught men to think lightly of the commandment on which He now lays stress. He had called on men to forsake father and mother for the sake of the gospel (Matthew 4:18; Matthew 4:22), and had excluded from discipleship those who loved father and mother more than they loved Him (Matthew 10:37). We need not close our eyes to the difficulty which thus presents itself. But the answer is not far to seek. In our Lord’s teaching, a lower, natural duty was to give way exceptionally to a higher and supernatural one; otherwise it remained in full force. In that of the Pharisees the natural duty, enforced by a direct divine commandment, was made to give way to one which was purely human, arbitrary, and conventional. The two cases were not only not analogous, but stood on an entirely different footing.
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Matthew. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Matthew 15:4 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Matthew 15:4
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge