15:4 For God commanded, saying, {b} Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
(b) By honour is meant every duty which children owe to their parents.
15:4 For God commanded. See Ex 21:17.
He that curseth, etc. The Ten Commandments promised long life to those who honored father and mother (Ex 20:12 De 5:16). Here the Lord quotes the punishment of dishonoring them. (See also Le 20:9.) On nothing did Moses insist more than respect for parents.
15:4 Honour thy father and mother - Which implies all such relief as they stand in need of. Exod 20:12; 21:17.
15:1-9 Additions to God's laws reflect upon his wisdom, as if he had left out something which was needed, and which man could supply; in one way or other they always lead men to disobey God. How thankful ought we to be for the written word of God! Never let us think that the religion of the Bible can be improved by any human addition, either in doctrine or practice. Our blessed Lord spoke of their traditions as inventions of their own, and pointed out one instance in which this was very clear, that of their transgressing the fifth commandment. When a parent's wants called for assistance, they pleaded, that they had devoted to the temple all they could spare, even though they did not part with it, and therefore their parents must expect nothing from them. This was making the command of God of no effect. The doom of hypocrites is put in a little compass; In vain do they worship me. It will neither please God, nor profit themselves; they trust in vanity, and vanity will be their recompence.
