Matthew 15:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.

NIV: He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots.

NASB: But He answered and said, 'Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted.

CSB: He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted.

NLT: Jesus replied, 'Every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be uprooted,

KJV: But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

NKJV: But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.

The Pharisees believe themselves to be righteous keepers of God's laws. They also assume themselves the final authority on what it means to be a righteous keeper of these laws. Because of this, they expect God to bless them for their legalistic, careful adherence to these extended series of rules. From their perspective, anyone who disagrees with them also disagrees with God.

Jesus, however, has only had words of condemnation for these religious leaders. Previously, He called them hypocrites for elevating human tradition about handwashing to the level of doctrine. This, they did while diminishing God's actual commands, such as to honor parents (Matthew 15:1–9). The Pharisees have become so focused on legalistic rule-keeping that they have missed the intent of God's laws: the reason they exist in the first place. They have failed to take their opportunity to care for God's people and communicate to them the spirit of God's law.

This verse uses classic language from the Old Testament Scriptures to show that these Pharisees and scribes will be overthrown by God. Jesus calls them plants His Father has not planted; therefore, these religious leaders will not be protected by God from being uprooted and cast aside. This is harsh language on its own, but it would be devastating for those familiar with Israel's Scripture (Isaiah 60:21; 61:3; Jeremiah 17:8). This is even more devastating coming from the Son of God, Himself. God's blessings for Israel will not be given to the Pharisees of Jesus' day.

Matthew 15:10–20 describes Jesus' expanded answer to a challenge from the Pharisees. Their concern is not about washing hands for health, but to follow religious rituals. He says these Pharisees will be uprooted and that they are blind guides. When asked, Jesus tells the disciples it's not what goes into a person's mouth that defiles him; it's the words that come out that reveal the sin in his heart. The defilement is already there, including all kinds of sin. He tells them flatly that eating with unwashed hands does not spiritually defile anyone.

Pharisees and scribes come from Jerusalem to challenge Jesus. They are offended that His disciples break the religious leaders' tradition about ritual handwashing before meals. Jesus turns that attack upside down, pointing out that His critics honor tradition above God's actual commands! He insists that nobody is defiled by what goes in the mouth—by the literal matter itself—but by the overflow of the spirit, such as the words that come out of the mouth. He and the disciples travel out of the country. Jesus casts a demon out of the daughter of a persistent Canaanite woman. They travel to the southeast side of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus feeds thousands of people from a few loaves and fishes. These last two events set up the eventual spread of the gospel beyond the people of Israel.

Matthew 15 begins with a confrontation between some Pharisees and Jesus. They ask why His disciples break the traditional practice of ritual handwashing. Pointedly, Jesus asks why they allow the obvious intent of God's commandments to be broken through their traditions. Jesus and the disciples travel out of Israel, encountering a Canaanite woman. He praises her faith and casts a demon from her daughter. They travel to the southeast side of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus heals more people and feeds thousands more from another few loaves and fishes. This sets up another confrontation with religious leaders, warnings about their teachings, and predictions of Jesus' death in the next chapter.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.