Matthew 15:6

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

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus speaks to the Pharisees and scribes immediately after they cite their corban tradition to avoid supporting their parents. He interrupts their legal defense to expose how their rule overrides familial obligation.

The words — The Greek τιμὴσει (timēsei) literally means "he will honor," directly echoing the commandment to respect parents. Jesus pairs it with the emphatic negative οὐ μὴ (ou mē) to declare that the tradition leaves the child with zero obligation to perform this honor.

The thread — This conflict between human tradition and divine command runs through 1 Timothy 5:8, which warns that failing to provide for one's household denies the faith. It also parallels Jeremiah 8:8, which condemns the scribes' lying pen for corrupting God's law.

Why it lands — The text explicitly states that human tradition nullifies God's word when it removes a stated duty. It asks readers to abandon any practice that functionally circumvents a direct biblical command.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

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 8:8 How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the Law of the LORD is with us,’ when in fact the lying pen of the scribes has produced a deception?
Psalms 119:126 It is time for the LORD to act, for they have broken Your law.
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.”
Psalms 119:139 My zeal has consumed me because my foes forget Your words.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.
Malachi 2:7 For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.
Romans 3:31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the law.
1 Timothy 5:3 Honor the widows who are truly widows.
1 Timothy 5:16 If any believing woman has dependent widows, she must assist them and not allow the church to be burdened, so that it can help the widows who are truly in need.