Clean and Unclean
he need not honor his father or mother with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. Matthew 15:6 · Berean Standard Bible
Jesus says plainly: you've cancelled God's Word for the sake of your own rules. Religious tradition has overridden divine command.
This is a warning for every generation. When your religious practices end up contradicting God's actual Word, something has gone seriously wrong.
Jesus pronounces His verdict on the Pharisees' tradition.
Jesus names the core problem: human religious systems can actually work against God's purposes when they lose sight of His heart.
The verdict ēkyrōsate ton logon tou theou ('you nullified the word of God') uses a legal term meaning to render void or annul. Jesus charges that human tradition has effectively repealed divine law.
The accusation that tradition nullifies Scripture strikes at the heart of Pharisaic authority. Jesus positions Himself as the defender of the written Torah against its supposed guardians.
Jesus delivers His judgment against the religious leaders' practice.
The irony is complete: the supposed defenders of God's law stand accused of canceling it. Their traditions, meant to protect the law, have replaced it.
4For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’
5But you say that if anyone says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’
6he need not honor his father or mother with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.
7You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you:
8‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.
Read all of Matthew 15 — Jesus dismantles the purity codes the Pharisees have built and shows that what defiles a person comes from within, not without.
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