Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.’ But you say that whoever tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you might have had from me is given to God,’ then that person need not honor the father. So, for the sake of your tradition, you nullify the word of God. You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.’ ” (Matthew 15:1-9, NRSVue)
Jesus defends the disciples by putting others in their place for twisting the commandments for their personal gain. We cannot use God to get ahead in the world, it will not work and will backfire on you. People and God will see your true heart and know why you do what you do.
Do not twist the scripture or God’s word for your gain.
Honor God.
Not yourself.
