Norwegian 2018 (Bibelen - Guds Ord Hverdagsbibelen (Hermon Forlag))
Jesus svarte dem: «Dere bryter budene selv, for dere har lagd deres egne regler som ikke stemmer med budene. Gud befaler oss for eksempel i budene: ‘ Vis respekt for faren og moren din ’ og ‘ Den som forbanner far eller mor, skal dø.’ Men dere sier i stedet at folk kan si til foreldrene sine: ‘Beklager, men den hjelpen dere skulle ha fått av meg, gir jeg heller som en gave til Gud.’ Slik bytter dere ut Guds bud om å vise respekt for foreldrene med egne selvlagde regler.
What Does This Mean?
In this verse from Matthew 15:3, Jesus is speaking to the religious leaders and asks them why they are breaking God's commandments through their own traditions. The key message here is that human-made traditions should not override God's commands.
Explained for Children
Imagine you have a special rule at home, like always saying 'please' and 'thank you.' But your friends come up with new rules about how to say it that make the original rule less important. Jesus says this isn't right because we should follow God’s rules first.
Historical Background
Matthew was written by an early Christian author around AD 80-90, aimed at a Jewish-Christian audience. The cultural setting was one where religious traditions were deeply ingrained and often used to interpret or even override the direct commandments of God.
Living It Out Today
Today, this can apply when we prioritize societal norms or personal beliefs over what the Bible teaches. For example, if someone believes that success is more important than honesty based on their environment's values, they might overlook biblical teachings about truthfulness.
Topics
Traditions vs. CommandmentsAuthority of God's WordReligious HypocrisyFaithfulness to GodSpiritual IntegrityBiblical Interpretation
What is the main issue Jesus addresses in Matthew 15:3?
Jesus addresses the issue of religious leaders using their traditions to override God's commandments, suggesting that such practices are spiritually harmful.
How can I recognize when a tradition might be overriding God’s commands?
Look for times when personal or cultural norms make you feel like following God’s direct commands is less important. It's crucial to ensure your traditions support rather than replace biblical teachings.
What was the reaction of religious leaders to Jesus' questioning in Matthew 15:3?
The text does not explicitly mention their reaction, but given the context of similar interactions with Jesus, they likely felt challenged or defensive about being seen as disobedient.
Are there any examples today where traditions might override God's commandments?
Certainly. In various religious communities, long-standing practices can sometimes overshadow core biblical principles if those traditions are given precedence over scripture’s teachings.