Matthew 15:6
New International Version
they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

New Living Translation
In this way, you say they don’t need to honor their parents. And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition.

English Standard Version
he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.

Berean Standard Bible
he need not honor his father or mother with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

Berean Literal Bible
he shall not honor his father or his mother.' And you made void the commandment of God on account of your tradition!

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.

New American Standard Bible
he is not to honor his father or mother.’ And by this you have invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

NASB 1995
he is not to honor his father or his mother.’ And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

NASB 1977
he is not to honor his father or his mother.’ And thus you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

Legacy Standard Bible
he need not honor his father.’ And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

Amplified Bible
he is not to honor his father or his mother [by helping them with their need].’ So by this you have invalidated the word of God [depriving it of force and authority and making it of no effect] for the sake of your tradition [handed down by the elders].

Christian Standard Bible
he does not have to honor his father.’ In this way, you have nullified the word of God because of your tradition.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
he does not have to honor his father.’ In this way, you have revoked God’s word because of your tradition.

American Standard Version
he shall not honor his father. And ye have made void the word of God because of your tradition.

Contemporary English Version
Is this any way to show respect to your parents? You ignore God's commands in order to follow your own teaching.

English Revised Version
he shall not honour his father. And ye have made void the word of God because of your tradition.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
does not have to honor his father. Because of your traditions you have destroyed the authority of God's word.

Good News Translation
they do not need to honor their father. In this way you disregard God's command, in order to follow your own teaching.

International Standard Version
does not have to honor his father.' Because of your tradition, then, you have disregarded the authority of God's word.

Majority Standard Bible
then he need not honor his father or mother with it. Thus you nullify the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition.

NET Bible
he does not need to honor his father.' You have nullified the word of God on account of your tradition.

New Heart English Bible
he is not to honor his father or his mother.' You have made the word of God void because of your tradition.

Webster's Bible Translation
And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.

Weymouth New Testament
he shall be absolved from honouring his father'; and so you have abrogated God's Word for the sake of your tradition.

World English Bible
he shall not honor his father or mother.’ You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he may not honor his father or his mother, and you set aside the command of God because of your tradition.

Berean Literal Bible
he shall not honor his father or his mother.' And you made void the commandment of God on account of your tradition!

Young's Literal Translation
and he may not honour his father or his mother, and ye did set aside the command of God because of your tradition.

Smith's Literal Translation
And should not honour his father or his mother. And ye have annulled the command of God by your tradition.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he shall not honour his father or his mother: and you have made void the commandment of God for your tradition.

Catholic Public Domain Version
then he shall not honor his father or his mother.’ So have you nullified the commandment of God, for the sake of your tradition.

New American Bible
need not honor his father.’ You have nullified the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

New Revised Standard Version
So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So you have rendered useless the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And you nullify the word of God because of your traditions.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
and you make the commandment of God of no effect for the sake of your tradition.

Godbey New Testament
You made void the commandment of God by your tradition.

Haweis New Testament
then he shall not with it honour his father and mother: so have ye vacated the command of God by your tradition.

Mace New Testament
thus have ye disannull'd the commandment of God by your tradition.

Weymouth New Testament
he shall be absolved from honouring his father'; and so you have abrogated God's Word for the sake of your tradition.

Worrell New Testament
shall in no wise honor his father; and ye made void the word of God because of your tradition.

Worsley New Testament
and so honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. And thus have ye made void the commandment of God by your tradition.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Tradition and Worship
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,’ 6 he 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:…

Cross References
Mark 7:13
Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.”

Exodus 20:12
Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

Deuteronomy 5:16
Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

Ephesians 6:2-3
“Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), / “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”

Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.

Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.

Proverbs 1:8
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.

Proverbs 30:17
As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.

1 Timothy 5:4
But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

1 Timothy 5:8
If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Jeremiah 35:15
Again and again I have sent you all My servants the prophets, proclaiming: ‘Turn now, each of you, from your wicked ways, and correct your actions. Do not go after other gods to serve them. Live in the land that I have given to you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear or listened to Me.

Ezekiel 20:18-19
In the wilderness I said to their children: ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols. / I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them.

Malachi 1:6
“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise My name. “But you ask, ‘How have we despised Your name?’

Matthew 5:17-19
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. / For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. / So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 23:16-24
Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ / You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred? / And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’ ...


Treasury of Scripture

And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have you made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

honour.

1 Timothy 5:3,4,8,16
Honour widows that are widows indeed…

Thus.

Psalm 119:126,139
It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law…

Jeremiah 8:8
How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

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Matthew 15
1. Jesus reproves the Scribes and Pharisees
7. for transgressing God's commandments through their own traditions;
10. teaches how that which goes into the mouth does not defile a man.
21. He heals the daughter of the woman of Canaan,
29. and other great multitudes;
32. and with seven loaves and a few small fish feeds four thousand men














he need not honor his father or mother with it.
This phrase addresses the practice of Corban, where individuals would dedicate something to God, often to avoid using it for other obligations, such as supporting their parents. This practice is rooted in Jewish tradition, where dedicating possessions to God was seen as a pious act. However, Jesus criticizes this misuse, highlighting the Pharisees' hypocrisy in allowing traditions to override God's commandments. The command to honor one's parents is deeply embedded in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:12), emphasizing its importance in Jewish law and culture. By prioritizing tradition over this commandment, the Pharisees were undermining the very law they claimed to uphold.

Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.
Here, Jesus condemns the Pharisees for elevating human traditions above divine commandments. The "word of God" refers to the Scriptures, which hold ultimate authority. By adhering to traditions that contradict God's commands, the Pharisees effectively render God's word void. This critique is consistent with Jesus' broader ministry, where He often challenges religious leaders for their legalism and lack of genuine faith. The tension between tradition and Scripture is a recurring theme in the New Testament, as seen in passages like Colossians 2:8, where Paul warns against being taken captive by human traditions. Jesus' rebuke serves as a reminder of the primacy of God's word over human customs, a principle that resonates throughout biblical teaching.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is addressing the Pharisees and scribes, challenging their adherence to human traditions over God's commandments.

2. Pharisees and Scribes
Religious leaders of the time who are known for their strict adherence to Jewish law and traditions. They are often depicted as opposing Jesus' teachings.

3. Tradition of the Elders
Refers to the oral traditions and interpretations of the law that the Pharisees and scribes held in high regard, sometimes even above the written Law of Moses.

4. Commandment to Honor Parents
A direct reference to the Fifth Commandment found in the Ten Commandments, which emphasizes the importance of honoring one's father and mother.

5. Corban
A practice where something is dedicated to God, which the Pharisees used as a loophole to avoid supporting their parents financially.
Teaching Points
The Supremacy of God's Word
God's commandments should always take precedence over human traditions. Believers must evaluate their practices to ensure they align with Scripture.

The Danger of Legalism
Legalism can lead to a focus on external rituals rather than the heart's condition. True obedience to God involves a heart aligned with His will.

Honoring Parents
The command to honor one's parents is timeless and should not be circumvented by cultural or religious practices. This principle extends to caring for family members in practical ways.

Heart Over Ritual
God desires genuine devotion rather than mere ritualistic observance. Believers should examine their motivations and ensure their worship is heartfelt.

Tradition vs. Commandment
While traditions can be valuable, they should never contradict or override God's commandments. Believers must discern and prioritize accordingly.(6) He shall be free.--The words, as the italics show, are not in the Greek, and if we follow the better reading, are not wanted to complete the sense. "Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me, he shall not honour (i.e., shall not support) his father or his mother." The "honour" which the commandment enjoined was identified with the duty which was its first and most natural expression.

By your tradition.--As before, for the sake of. They had inverted the right relation of the two, and made the tradition an end, and not a means. St. Mark (Mark 7:9) gives what we cannot describe otherwise than as a touch of grave and earnest irony, in the truest and best sense of that word, "Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own traditions."

Verse 6. - And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. The last clause is not in the Greek; it is supplied by our translators, as it was in Coverdale's version, to complete the apodosis. There are various methods of translating the passage. Retaining καὶ at the beginning of the sentence, some make these words the continuation of the gloss, "Whosoever shall say," etc., the apodosis being found in the sentence following. Others conceive an aposiopesis after "be profited by me," as if Christ refrained from pronouncing the hypocritical and indeed blasphemous words which completed the gloss. In this case the apodosis follows in ver. 6, καὶ, then such a one will not honour (τιμήα ει, not τιμήσῃ), etc. The words are best taken as put into the Pharisees' mouth in the sense, "The man under those circumstances shall not honour," etc.; he is free from the obligation of helping his parents. The form of the sentence (οὐ μὴ with the future verb) is prohibitory rather than predictive, and implies, "he is forbidden to honour." Christ thus sharply emphasizes the contradiction between God's Law and man's perversion thereof. St. Mark has, "Ye no longer suffer him to do aught for his father." Thus; καὶ in the apodosis, removing the full stop before it in the Authorized Version. This is our Lord's own saying. Made...of none effect. Evacuated its real force and spirit. By; owing to, for the sake of, as St. Mark says, "that ye may keep your tradition." Our translators often mistake the meaning of the preposition διὰ with the accusative, which never signifies "by means of."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
he need not honor
τιμήσει (timēsei)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5091: From timios; to prize, i.e. Fix a valuation upon; by implication, to revere.

his
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

father
πατέρα (patera)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3962: Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.

or
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

mother [with it].
μητέρα (mētera)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3384: A mother. Apparently a primary word; a 'mother'.

Thus
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

you nullify
ἠκυρώσατε (ēkyrōsate)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 208: To annul, make of no effect, cancel. To invalidate.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

word
λόγον (logon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

of God
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

for the sake of
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

your
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

tradition.
παράδοσιν (paradosin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3862: An instruction, tradition. From paradidomi; transmission, i.e. a precept; specially, the Jewish traditionary law.


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