The Balance of Giving

Scriptures: Matthew 15:3-6

And He answered and said to them, "Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? "For God said, 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER,' and, 'HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH. "But you say, 'Whoever says to {his} father or mother, "Whatever I have that would help you has been given {to God,}" he is not to honor his father or his mother.' And {by this} you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

Jesus is speaking to the Pharisee and scribes about how they twist the Word of God to fit into what they want. He calls them hypocrites because they set aside the Word of God for the sake of their tradition. The Word of God says for us to Honor our father and mother, but the Pharisee and Scribes readjusted the Word of God, in saying that, whatever money that they had, was designated as a gift to God; therefore, they could not, and/or would not use it to help their parents.

Reflection:
It is important for us to balance what God gives us, and not to justify our lack of support and assistance to our parents, or to others in need. If we see that our parents are in need financially, or otherwise; or that someone that we know, or don't know, is in need; and it is within our power to help them; we should not say within ourselves, the money is designated for the Lord. Because in our giving to those in need, God is honored and blessed. When we withhold our hands from blessing others because of tradition, we inturn become like the Pharisee and the scribes.

Prayer:
Father God, thank you for giving me a giving and generous heart, so that I can bless those that you have given me to bless. Regardless of the traditions of man, your Word makes it clear; not to be guided by the traditions of man, but by your  grace and mercy. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Strong's Concordance Definitions: Matthew 15:4

For God: 2316
1) a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities
2) the Godhead, trinity
a) God the Father, the first person in the trinity
b) Christ, the second person of the trinity
c) Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity
3) spoken of the only and true God
a) refers to the things of God
b) his counsels, interests, things due to him
4) whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way
a) God's representative or viceregent
1) of magistrates and judges

said: 3004
1) to say, to speak
a) affirm over, maintain
b) to teach
c) to exhort, advise, to command, direct
d) to point out with words, intend, mean, mean to say
e) to call by name, to call, name
f) to speak out, speak of, mention

honor: 5091
1) to estimate, fix the value
a) for the value of something belonging to one's self
2) to honour, to have in honour, to revere, venerate

your father: 3962
1) generator or male ancestor

a) either the nearest ancestor: father of the corporeal nature, natural fathers, both parents
b) a more remote ancestor, the founder of a family or tribe, progenitor of a people, forefather: so Abraham is called, Jacob and David
1) fathers i.e. ancestors, forefathers, founders of a nation
c) one advanced in years, a senior
2) metaph.
a) the originator and transmitter of anything
1) the authors of a family or society of persons animated by the same spirit as himself
2) one who has infused his own spirit into others, who actuates and governs their minds
b) one who stands in a father's place and looks after another in a paternal way
c) a title of honour
1) teachers, as those to whom pupils trace back the knowledge and training they have received
2) the members of the Sanhedrin, whose prerogative it was by virtue of the wisdom and experience in which they excelled, to take charge of the interests of others
3) God is called the Father
a) of the stars, the heavenly luminaries, because he is their creator, upholder, ruler
b) of all rational and intelligent beings, whether angels or men, because he is their creator, preserver, guardian and protector
1) of spiritual beings and of all men
c) of Christians, as those who through Christ have been exalted to a specially close and intimate relationship with God, and who no longer dread him as a stern judge of sinners, but revere him as their reconciled and loving Father
d) the Father of Jesus Christ, as one whom God has united to himself in the closest bond of love and intimacy, made acquainted with his purposes, appointed to explain and carry out among men the plan of salvation, and made to share also in his own divine nature
1) by Jesus Christ himself
2) by the apostles

and mother: 3384
1) a mother
2) metaph. the source of something, the motherland

he who speaks evil: 2551
1) to speak evil of, revile, abuse, one

2) to curse

is to be put: 5053
1) to finish, bring to and end, close

2) to have an end or close, come to an end

to death: 2288
1) the death of the body

a) that separation (whether natural or violent) of the soul and the body by which the life on earth is ended
b) with the implied idea of future misery in hell
1) the power of death
c) since the nether world, the abode of the dead, was conceived as being very dark, it is equivalent to the region of thickest darkness i.e. figuratively, a region enveloped in the darkness of ignorance and sin
2) metaph., the loss of that life which alone is worthy of the name,
a) the misery of the soul arising from sin, which begins on earth but lasts and increases after the death of the body in hell
3) the miserable state of the wicked dead in hell
4) in the widest sense, death comprising all the miseries arising from sin, as well physical death as the loss of a life consecrated to God and blessed in him on earth, to be followed by wretchedness in hell

References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for thanatos (Strong's 2288)". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 23 Jan 2010. http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G2288&t=NASB

Higgins, S. (2010). The Balance of Giving. Devotions for Thought. Higgins Publishing. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, http://www.higginspublishing.com