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NASB | Matthew 15:4 "For God said, 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER,' and, 'HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH.' |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 15:4 "For God said [through Moses], 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER,' and, 'HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF or INSULTS or TREATS IMPROPERLY FATHER OR MOTHER IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH.' [Ex 20:12; 21:17; Lev 20:9; Deut 5:16] |
Subject: Should this verse apply today? |
Bible Note: Well, like you've said, this idea is mentioned in other places in Scripture. Mat 15:4 - For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother-- (Deu_5:16). and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death-- (Exo_21:17). "Honor thy father and mother—This word was taken in great latitude of meaning among the Jews: it not only meant respect and submission, but also to take care of a person, to nourish and support him, to enrich. See Numbers 22:17; Judges 13:17; 1 Timothy 5:17. And that this was the sense of the law, as it respected parents, see Deuteronomy 27:16, and see the note on Exodus 20:12." (Adam Clarke's Commentary on the NT) "Family, Role Relationships—Family responsibilities are not to be set aside to fulfill religious obligations. The law required faithful Jews to care for their parents in their old age, but oral tradition provided a way for selfish children to avoid this responsibility. By declaring all their property to be “corban,” given to God, they could tell their parents they had no money available to help them (Mk 7:1-13). Jesus placed His trust firmly on the biblical revelation and rejected the oral tradition which pious Jews believed was as binding as the law." (Disciple's Study Bible) "Judaism universally demanded honor of father and mother and included financial support of aged parents as part of this honor. Some, like *Josephus and many *rabbis, regarded this demand as the most important commandment in the Law. The *Pharisees therefore could not have disagreed with Jesus’ example; they did not recommend that people fail to support their parents, but their allowance of special vows dedicating things only to “sacred” use created this loophole for those who could have wished to use it (cf. Prov 28:24). Some legal loopholes (such as the , an early rule circumventing the law’s cancellation of debts in the seventh year) were intended to uphold the spirit of the law; this one unwittingly undercut even that." (IVP Bible Background Commentary: NT) "Jesus was referring to a practice whereby people would dedicate their possessions to God so that they could use their finances for themselves and not for others. For example, if parents needed money, the children could excuse themselves from helping because their resources were already “dedicated” to God. This ruse kept people from honoring their parents by taking care of them in their old age." (Nelson NKJV Study Bible) The children were neglecting their duties to their parents and not honoring them, and I believe that Jesus literally meant this so that they would not continue to be able to dodge or be relieved of this responsibility. --Nolan |