Matt 15:3 And He answered and said to them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? (4) For God said, "Honor your father and your mother," and, "He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death." (5) But you say, Whoever says to his father or his mother, Whatever you would have been profited by me is now a gift to God, (6) Shall by no means honor his father or his mother; and you have deprived the word of God of its authority because of your tradition.
The Lord's dealing with the Pharisees and scribes here not only condemned them for making void the word of God because of their tradition, but also implied that man should honor his parents. God in His government among men has ordained that man should honor his parents. Among the ten commandments (Exo. 20:12), He has made this the first commandment concerning human relationships. Fallen human nature, however, always attempts to ignore the parents, that is, to rebel against God's government. The Lord as the heavenly King, in order to bring man back to God's government, emphasized that man should honor his parents. This corresponds to His word in the constitution of the kingdom of the heavens concerning the fulfillment of the law (Matt. 5:17-19). Hence, the Apostle also emphasized this matter strongly (Eph. 6:1- 3; Col. 3:20). We the kingdom people must honor our parents and not excuse ourselves as the Jewish religionists did. Any excuse indicates that we are not under the heavenly ruling, but that we are following our fallen human nature and the rebellious trend of today's generation.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of Matthew, pp. 533. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. Please visit us at www.emanna.com. Send comments to: [email protected].
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