New Testament · Gospel

Matthew 15:4

Clean and Unclean

For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ Matthew 15:4 · Berean Standard Bible
What It Means

Matthew 15:4, in plain English

Jesus quotes God's own words: 'Honor your father and mother.' He goes straight to Scripture to show what really matters to God.

Why it's here

When people complicate faith with layers of rules, it helps to go back to the basics of what God actually said. Jesus models this perfectly.

Who's speaking

Jesus quotes the commandments of God as His authority.

Where it sits in the story

Jesus anchors the debate in God's Word, not human opinion. The commandment to honor parents is His starting point for exposing the leaders' hypocrisy.

A Closer Look

The scholar's commentary

Jesus cites the fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12) and its penalty clause (Exodus 21:17), establishing the divine origin and seriousness of the command to honor parents. The phrase ho theos eipen ('God said') emphasizes divine authorship.

Language and setting

By quoting both the positive command and its death penalty for violation, Jesus demonstrates the gravity of the law that the Pharisees' tradition effectively circumvents.

Voice

Jesus quotes Scripture, citing God's direct commandment.

Significance

Jesus builds His case by grounding His argument in Torah itself. He establishes the standard by which the Pharisees' tradition will be judged.

In context

Matthew 15:2–6

2“Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.”

3Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?

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.

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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