The Meaning of Matthew 15:5 Explained

Matthew 15:5

KJV: But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

YLT: but ye say, Whoever may say to father or mother, An offering is whatever thou mayest be profited by me; --

Darby: But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or mother, It is a gift, whatsoever it be by which received from me thou wouldest be profited:

ASV: But ye say, whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is given to God ;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  ye  say,  Whosoever  shall say  to [his] father  or  [his] mother,  [It is] a gift,  by  whatsoever  thou mightest be profited  by me; 

What does Matthew 15:5 Mean?

Study Notes

gift i.e. dedicated to God.
Matthew 5:23 ; Matthew 5:24 ; Mark 7:11
a gift
Or, I have dedicated to God that which would relieve your need; Mark 7:12 .
No longer do you permit him to use it for his father or mother. Cf. Matthew 15:5 ; Matthew 15:6

Context Summary

Matthew 15:1-9 - God's Truth Above Men's Teaching
The legal washing of hands before eating was especially sacred in the eyes of the Pharisees. "He who does not wash His hands before eating," says the Talmud, "is as bad as a murderer." Jesus had no sympathy with a system that reduced religion to a slavery to outward forms. His new kingdom was in the heart, in loving sonship to God, and in faith. All outward observances had value only as expressions of the inner spirit. He waived aside their deadly pedantry and told His hearers to care above everything for the cleanliness of the heart.
He did more; He accused the Pharisees of putting their commandments on a level with the divine requirements, and so rendering the whole of Israel's worship vain. The divine authority for what is commanded is greatly weakened when it is mixed up with the purely human. A multitude of saints' days weakens the claims of the Lord's day. Remember that no gift to God's service is acceptable if you neglect the claims of those who are related to you by natural ties. Morality in God's eyes stands far above ritual. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

Greek Commentary for Matthew 15:5

But ye say [μεις δε λεγετε]
In sharp contrast to the command of God. Jesus had quoted the fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12, Exodus 20:16) with the penalty “die the death” All one had to do to evade one‘s duty to father or mother was to say “Corban” or “Gift” (Δωρον — Dōron) with the idea of using the money for God. By an angry oath of refusal to help one‘s parents, the oath or vow was binding. By this magic word one set himself free (ου μη τιμησει — ou mē timēsei he shall not honour) from obedience to the fifth commandment. Sometimes unfilial sons paid graft to the rabbinical legalists for such dodges. Were some of these very faultfinders guilty? [source]
It is a gift [δῶρον]
Rev., given to God. The picture is that of a churlish son evading the duty of assisting his needy parents by uttering the formula, Corbanit is a gift to God. “Whatever that may be by which you might be helped by me, is not mine to give. It is vowed to God.” The man, however, was not bound in that case to give his gift to the temple-treasury, while he was bound not to help his parent; because the phrase did not necessarily dedicate the gift to the temple. By a quibble it was regarded as something like Corbanas if it were laid on the altar and put entirely out of reach. It was expressly stated that such a vow was binding, even if what was vowed involved a breach of the law. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 15:5

Mark 7:11 Corban []
Mark only gives the original word, and then translates. See on Matthew 15:5. [source]
Mark 7:11 Corban [κορβαν ο εστιν δωρον]
See note on Matthew 15:5. Mark preserves the Hebrew word for a gift or offering to God (Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9), indeclinable here, meaning gift (dōron), but declinable korbanas in Matthew 27:6, meaning sacred treasury. The rabbis (but ye say, δωρον — humeis de legete) actually allowed the mere saying of this word by an unfaithful son to prevent the use of needed money for the support of father or mother. It was a home thrust to these pettifogging sticklers for ceremonial punctilios. They not only justified such a son‘s trickery, but held that he was prohibited from using it for father or mother, but he might use it for himself. [source]
1 Timothy 5:3 Honor [τίμα]
Not only by respectful treatment but by financial support. Comp. τιμήσει , Matthew 15:5, and πολλαῖς τιμαῖς ἐτίμησαν , Acts 28:10; and διπλῆς τιμῆς 1 Timothy 5:17. Comp. Ephesians href="/desk/?q=eph+6:2&sr=1">Ephesians 6:2, citation), and only here in Pastorals. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 15:5 mean?

You however say Whoever - shall say to the father or the mother [It is] a gift whatever if by me you might be profited
ὑμεῖς δὲ λέγετε Ὃς ἂν εἴπῃ τῷ πατρὶ τῇ μητρί Δῶρον ἐὰν ἐξ ἐμοῦ ὠφεληθῇς

δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
λέγετε  say 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
Ὃς  Whoever 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
ἂν  - 
Parse: Particle
Root: ἄν  
Sense: has no exact English equivalent, see definitions under AV.
εἴπῃ  shall  say 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
τῷ  to  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πατρὶ  father 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.
μητρί  mother 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: μήτηρ  
Sense: a mother.
Δῶρον  [It  is]  a  gift 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: δῶρον  
Sense: a gift, present.
  whatever 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
ἐμοῦ  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ὠφεληθῇς  you  might  be  profited 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Passive, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ὠφελέω  
Sense: to assist, to be useful or advantageous, to profit.