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Explanation for:
Matthew
15
:
7
Hypocrites, well hath Isaias prophesied of you, saying:
7
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Hypocrites, Isaiah spoke truthfully about you when he declared, ‘These people come to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, yet their hearts are far removed from Me; their worship is empty, and they teach human precepts as doctrines’ (Matthew 15:7-9). It is important to notice that when the Lord wishes to eliminate a command, He typically approaches it through a rebuke, and that is precisely what He did here. He does not directly address the wrongdoing committed, nor does He claim it is inconsequential, as that would only embolden their defiance. Instead, He first strikes at their arrogance, presenting a far graver sin for consideration, and places it squarely on their heads. He refrains from affirming that those who break the law act rightly, as that would enable them to charge Him with wrongdoing; nor does He criticize the actions of His disciples, as that might endorse the law they were scrutinizing. He also does not admonish the elders outright as people of lawlessness (for if He had, the Pharisees would have distanced themselves from Him as a critic). Rather than take this route, He opts for a different approach, seemingly reprimanding those who came to Him, while actually addressing the ones who established these regulations.\\n\\nHe does not mention the elders directly, but in the denouncement aimed at some, He disqualifies others, revealing that they are doubly culpable for not adhering to God's commands while catering to people’s approval. It is as if He conveys, ‘The practice of following the elders has led you astray.’ Though He does not articulate it in these direct words, His subsequent response makes this message clear: Why do you also violate the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? God ordained: Honor your father and mother; and: Anyone who speaks ill of father or mother must be put to death. Yet you argue, ‘If anyone tells his father or mother, what you would have received from me is a gift, then he need not honor his father or mother,’ thus nullifying the word of God for the sake of your tradition (Matthew 15:3-6). The Lord did not refer to ‘the tradition of the elders’ but rather to ‘your tradition’; He did not say, ‘the elders say’ but ‘you say,’ softening His remarks. The scribes and Pharisees aimed to prove that His disciples were violating the law; conversely, Christ demonstrates that it is they who transgress, absolving the disciples of blame. Human ordinances do not equate to divine law, and thus, He labels it a tradition, especially not the ordinances imposed by those lacking authority. \\n\\nFollowing His stern admonishment, He expands His discourse, as He often does, by invoking Scripture to validate His stance, indicating His alignment with God. What does the prophet declare? These people honor Me with their lips, yet their hearts are distant from Me; their worship is hollow as they teach human commandments as doctrines (Isaiah 29:13). Can you see how the prophecy aligns perfectly with the words of Jesus and how it previously condemned the unrighteousness of the Jews? What Christ now judges was earlier articulated by Isaiah; that is, the Jews had disregarded God's commands. They honor Me in vain,’ he states, ‘while diligently teaching human commandments as doctrine. Thus, it is just that the disciples do not adhere to these regulations."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees, aiming to distort this essential command from God in order to disguise their malice as devotion, instructed the most misguided offspring that if someone wanted to dedicate something to God, the true Father, which was meant to be offered to their parents, the offering to God should take priority over what was intended for their parents. It is possible that the parents, witnessing what was dedicated to God and fearing condemnation for a sacrilegious act, endured poverty. Meanwhile, the gifts of children, masquerading as offerings to the temple, turned out to be a source of profit for the priests. This deeply flawed tradition of the Pharisees stemmed from a different motivation: many individuals, having borrowed money from others and reluctant to repay what was entrusted to them, gave it instead to the priests so that the money they owed could be redirected for temple service and their own needs. The expression, \\"The gift that is from me shall help you,\\" succinctly conveys the following meaning: you encourage children to tell their parents, \\"Father, mother! The offering I intend to bring to God is being used to provide for you,\\" leading the parents, aware that these funds are meant for God, to choose a life of scarcity rather than accept what is designated for divine purposes."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Isaiah accurately foretold your nature, calling you hypocrites. He labeled them hypocrites because they seemed to adhere to the law while simultaneously violating it. By referencing the prophet who once condemned them for this very behavior, He demonstrates that it was He who conveyed this message through the prophet."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"While not denouncing the gifts presented at the Temple, the Lord criticized the customs established by the Jewish scholars, which allowed them to negotiate their own consciences: ‘You nullify the commandment of God for your tradition, which you will ultimately betray. Is it right for you to abandon the Commandment of God in order to maintain your tradition?’ This disregard for the profound demands of God’s Law, coupled with the elevation of trivial actions to unwarranted importance, resonated with the essence of hypocrisy and the facade of righteousness that characterized the Pharisees. The prophet Isaiah accurately foretold of such individuals, stating, “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me; and in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Although the prophet’s words were directly relevant to his contemporaries, they also served as a poignant reference for future generations, particularly aimed at the Pharisees."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Hypocrites: refer to the commentary on Matthew 7:5. A hypocrite is someone who strives through their actions to present themselves as morally and spiritually superior to their true self; broadly speaking, one who \\"seems to be different from what they truly are\\" (Theophil.). - Good: just, truthful, and precise. - Isaiah delivered a prophecy about you: Isaiah, by divine inspiration, addressed the Jewish people of his era with words that resonate with the Jews during Christ’s time, thereby reflecting both his contemporaries and their descendants. His prophecy came to fruition among the Jews, particularly the Pharisees who existed during Christ’s ministry."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Pharisee was primarily concerned with presenting himself as someone different from his true nature. He sought to project an image of piety and righteousness; however, since genuine piety is challenging to attain, he crafted various means to bypass the strict demands of the law, twisting its interpretation to serve his purposes, and even substituting them with traditions established by fellow pretenders. Hypocrites! Isaiah aptly foresaw your condition, declaring, ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me; they worship Me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ They dismiss His commandments and replace them with their own, the doctrines of men. They delude themselves into thinking they can please God in this manner and foolishly propagate the same to others."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The issue was raised in the presence of the crowd. The Lord, setting aside this specific matter, began to address the significance of traditions, stating that “Among your traditions there are some which are contrary to the law of God.” He also highlighted the elders' regulation regarding the Korban, which allowed the Jews, under the guise of religious devotion, to violate the foremost commandment of the Ten Commandments concerning their neighbors (Honor thy father...). By illustrating this inconsistency with the law, the Lord wrapped up His response with a broader observation about the nature of Pharisaic devotion, citing the words of the prophet Isaiah about those who honor God only with their mouths, while their hearts are far from Him."}]}
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