Profited by a Gift - Matthew 15:5

Matthew the apostle wrote, “Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honor your father and mother: and, He that curses father or mother, let him die the death”, and in chapter fifteen and verse five of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus said to the Scribes and Pharisees, “”but you say, whosoever shall say to his father and mother, it is a gift” so “you might be profited by me” where we read:

But you say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother,

It is a gift, by whatsoever you might be profited by me;

The verse reads, “But you say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, ...”. Matthew began with the word, “ but” which means “nevertheless, moreover and” “you say” which means “the scribes and Pharisees utter, declare and proclaim”, “whosoever shall say” which means “whatever person whether male or female will utter, declare and proclaim” “to his father” or “to his or her generator or male ancestor” “or his mother” which refers to “his or her female ancestor”. Matthew shared how Jesus began to share the “tradition” of the “scribes and Pharisees” as opposed to the “command of God”.

The verse continues, “... It is a gift, by whatsoever you might be profited by me;” Matthew added the words, “it is a gift” which means “what they are about to declare is an expression of honor, sacrifice, present and offering” “by whatsoever” which means “through whether, except and that which is said” “you might be profited” or “the parent whether father or mother would be assisted, made useful and advantageous” “by me” which means “through the scribe or Pharisee”. Matthew shared how the “scribes and Pharisees” had the “tradition” of declaring what they were about to say to their parents was “assisting or giving advantage” to them.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we discover the manner in which the “scribes and Pharisees” circumvented the “command of God” to “honor your father and mother”. Before they made a “dishonoring” comment to them, they would say something like this, “now this is for your own good” or “that which I am about to declare is like a present to you”. God desires “truth in the inward parts”, and the “scribes and Pharisees” were seeking to avoid keeping God's law. However, they were deceived into believing their declaration of “it is a gift” would exempt them from violation to God's command. Not so, and neither is it the case for anyone reading these words of Jesus because He speaks truth all the time.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus tells the “scribes and Pharisees”, “you made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.