Matthew 15:3-6

Matthew 15:3-6

[3] But  he answered  and said  unto them,  also  transgress  the commandment  of God  by  tradition?  [4] For  God  Honour  father  and  mother:  and,  He that curseth  father  or  mother,  let him die  the death.  [5] But  say,  Whosoever  shall say  to his father  or  his mother,  It is a gift,  by  whatsoever  thou mightest be profited  [6] And  honour  his  father  or  his  mother,  he shall be free. Thus  of God  of none effect  by  tradition. 

What does Matthew 15:3-6 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Jesus responded with a counterattack. He made a basic distinction between God"s commandments and the Jews" traditions. He charged His critics with breaking the former to keep the latter.
". . . the ordinances of the Scribes were declared more precious, and of more binding importance than those of Holy scripture itself." [1]
In Matthew 15:4 Jesus quoted Exodus 20:12; Exodus 21:17. "Curses" (NIV) is too strong. "Speaks evil of" (NASB) is better since the Greek verb kakologeo means "to insult."
The Pharisees and scribes, however, had evaded the spirit of the command, namely, that children should take responsibility for their needy parents. The "you" is emphatic in the Greek text. Halakic (rabbinic) tradition said that if someone vowed to give something to God he should not break his vow. Jesus said the law taught a more fundamental duty. To withhold from one"s parents what one could give to help them because of what the rabbis taught was greedy hypocrisy. The error was not so much using the money for oneself as failing to give it to the needy parent.
Jesus had taught His disciples to put commitment to Him before family responsibilities ( Matthew 8:21-22; Matthew 10:38). He was the Messiah, and as such He had a right to demand such a strong commitment. The traditions of the Jews did not carry that much authority. Moreover the situation Jesus had addressed previously involved family members opposing His disciples, not His disciples opposing their family members (cf. Matthew 10:37-39).