Question:
Please explain Matthew 15:4–6. What is the meaning of “It is a gift”?
Answer:
The text reads: “For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 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.” (Matthew 15:4-6).
One of God’s great commandments enjoins, “Honour thy father and thy mother.” That means to support them in old age. But the Pharisees had a scheme of making void their duty. They said, My property is “Corban” (see Mark 7:11), that is, “given to God,” and I have no right to use it for you; therefore, they withheld the help their parents needed while they used the property for their benefit. Of course, they didn’t give it to God. That was a plan to rid themselves of duty.
