5 “But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” 6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.” (Matthew 15:5–6 (ESV)
What does it mean to make something null and void? Null and void means that something is canceled, invalid, or of no legal validity, force, or effect. The term is often used in contract law to mean that the contract was never valid and has no legal effect. The phrase is actually redundant, since null means “void,” that is, “ineffective”.
Jesus addressed an ironic situation. The religious leaders were quick to criticize and condemn Him and the disciples. They believed that Jesus and His followers were constantly breaking the Old Testament Law. On the contrary, what Jesus violated was the religious traditions of His day that were neither authoritative or binding.
However, what is ironic is that Jesus confronted the same religious leaders regarding their hypocrisy. They did not obey the Ten Commandments they claimed to love and cherish. Jesus’ example was their unwillingness to honor their parents. By doing so, they rendered the Old Testament covenant law null and void for the sake of their religion.
“The Pharisees and scribes were telling the children that there was a way to get around the heavy burden of having to bestow honor upon their parents by supporting them. If either father or mother, noticing that a son has something which was needed by the parent, asked for it, all that was necessary was for the son to say “It’s and offering,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.
“The son would be saying that whatever it is by which I might benefit you, whether now or in the future, I here and now declare that it is to be considered an offering. It was a wicked device to deprive parents of the honor due to them.”
Additionally, what was offered to God was often kept by the offeror. Often, the offering, withheld from the parents and supposedly given to God, was not given to either. The Pharisees and the scribes let go the commandment of God for the tradition of men. But they took issue with Jesus and His disciples not washing their hands before eating.
I wonder how often we are guilty of the same sin. Let each of us resolve that we will never render the Word of God null and void in our lives.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 