Tag Archives: Matthew 15:5

ὑμεῖς δὲ λέγετε· ὃς ἂν εἴπῃ τῷ πατρὶ ἢ τῇ μητρί, δῶρον ὃ ἐὰν ἐξ ἐμοῦ ὠφεληθῇς, καὶ οὐ μὴ τιμήσει τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ ἢ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ· (Matthew 15:5–6a) The Traditions That Undermine the Law

In this striking rebuke, Jesus exposes the religious leaders’ distortion of divine commandments through their man-made traditions. The Greek syntax mirrors this distortion with sharp contrast and layered conditional grammar. Through conditional clauses, subjunctive verbs, and a future denial, Jesus reveals how tradition can be used to nullify the clear command to honor one’s parents.

Let us explore how the grammar communicates this theological irony.… Learn Koine Greek