Mat 15:3-6 | PNT | STEP | Why do ye also transgress ? The Lord does not deny their charge, but strikes at the evil by showing that their human traditions led them to break God's written law.

Matthew 15:3-6

Why do ye also transgress? The Lord does not deny their charge, but strikes at the evil by showing that their human traditions led them to break God's written law. For God commanded. See Ex 21:17.

He that curseth, etc. The Ten Commandments promised long life to those who honored father and mother (Ex 20:12 De 5:16). Here the Lord quotes the punishment of dishonoring them. (See also Le 20:9.) On nothing did Moses insist more than respect for parents. Ye say. Following tradition, you say one thing while God says in the law just the opposite. The scribes taught that a Jew by calling his possessions "Corban" (a gift to God, Mr 7:11) was absolved from the duty of caring for his parents, even though he did not afterward devote his property to sacred uses. Thus, by an artifice, the law with respect to parents could be set aside. The Talmud furnishes a curious illustration of this perversion of the command. The Mishna says: ``He that curses his father or his mother is not guilty, unless he curses them with an express mention of the name of Jehovah.'' Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect. Modern Pharisaism does the same. Church tradition leads to dogmas that set aside God's commands. The corruption of the simplicity of early Christianity is due to following human tradition.