Understanding Matthew 15:6: Honor Over Hypocrisy

Context of Matthew 15:6

This verse comes during a confrontation between Jesus and religious leaders who criticized His disciples for not following man-made hand-washing rituals.

The Pharisees upheld a tradition called 'korban,' where someone could declare their resources 'dedicated to God' as a gift, which meant they couldn’t use that money to help their parents - even though God’s command was clear: 'Honor your father and your mother' (Exodus 20:12). By allowing this loophole, the leaders made it seem religious to ignore a parent in need, effectively canceling out God’s command. Jesus called this hypocrisy because they used spiritual language to avoid real responsibility.

This sets the stage for Jesus’ broader teaching that what truly defiles a person isn’t breaking human traditions, but the evil that comes from an unclean heart.

How Tradition Can Override God's Word

Jesus zeroes in on how a man-made religious rule was being used to justify breaking a clear command from God.

The tradition of 'korban' - declaring money or property as a gift dedicated to God - was not wrong in itself, but it became a loophole that let people refuse to support their aging parents, which directly violated the fifth commandment: 'Honor your father and your mother' (Exodus 20:12). Jesus shows that when human rules cancel out God’s moral instructions, religion becomes empty performance.

This issue wasn’t only about hand-washing or gifts to the temple. It revealed a deeper problem - prioritizing religious appearance over real love and duty. The Pharisees focused on outward purity, like clean hands, while ignoring the inner condition of the heart that leads to actions like neglecting a parent in need. Jesus makes it clear: no tradition, no matter how spiritual it sounds, should override God’s call to love and care for others in tangible ways.

The Heart of True Obedience

The real issue Jesus highlights isn’t tradition itself, but how it can quietly replace God’s clear commands when we’re not careful.

God’s law to honor parents goes beyond respect. It calls for real, practical care, especially when they’re in need. When human rules let us off the hook from loving others, we risk honoring God with our lips while our hearts drift away from His true intentions (Matthew 15:8).

Real faith isn’t about following religious rules - it’s about keeping our hearts aligned with God’s clear commands to love Him and love others.

This story fits Matthew’s theme of showing Jesus as the one who reveals the heart behind the law, rather than only the letter. It teaches us that God values genuine love and obedience more than religious performance - and that faith is lived out not in rituals, but in how we treat people, especially those closest to us.

Matthew 15:6 in the Wider Bible Story

This moment with Jesus confronts a problem that runs through both Testaments: how religious people can use spiritual-sounding rules to avoid real obedience.

The same issue appears in Mark 7:9-13, where Jesus directly rebukes the Pharisees: 'You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!' He quotes the command to honor parents and exposes how 'korban' made God’s word 'void.' This shows a consistent biblical theme - God has always valued faithful, heart-level obedience over empty ritual.

Jesus didn’t come to erase the Old Testament but to fulfill it - especially where human rules had twisted God’s clear commands into loopholes.

The prophets called Israel back to true worship. Jesus restores the heart of God’s law, showing He is the true Teacher who fulfills the Law’s intent.

Application