Matthew 15:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What does Christ proclaim? Every plant that my heavenly Father has not sowed will be pulled up. Some who adhere to the beliefs of the Manichaeans argue that this statement refers to the law; however, their argument falters when considering the preceding context. If the Lord's remarks pertain to the law, then how does He subsequently uphold and honor it by questioning, Why do you also violate the commandment of God due to your treachery? What do the words of the prophet indicate? No, this pertains to the Pharisees and their customs. If God has commanded, 'Honor your father and mother,' how can we claim that what God commands is not the work of His hands?

He asserts that the practices of the elders and the decrees of the Jews should be discontinued, rather than the divine law, contrary to the beliefs of the Manichaeans who view it as requiring removal, for the law is the creation of God. Thus, it is not the law that should be uprooted, as its essence persists—the concealed spirit remains. However, the outward expression, represented by the visible text, is temporary; we interpret the law not through its literal meaning but through the spirit.

The phrase, "every plant that is not... planted. My heavenly Father, ... shall be uprooted," should be interpreted in the context of the teachings of their forebears.

In the Scriptures, even matters that appear straightforward are imbued with deep inquiries. He states, “Anything that is not planted by my Father in heaven will be uprooted.” Therefore, it is akin to the plant referred to by the Apostle, “I planted, Apollos watered,” (1 Cor. 3:6), as if it, too, were to be pulled up by the roots. However, this confusion is clarified by the continuation: “But God gave the increase,” (1 Cor. 3:6). He goes on to declare, “You are God’s field, God’s building.” Additionally, in another context, he states: “We are fellow workers with God,” (1 Cor. 3:9). If they are indeed co-laborers, it implies that when Paul plants and Apollos waters, God, alongside these co-workers, is also planting and nourishing.

Due to the biases of the scribes and Pharisees who violated God's commandments, they established their own teachings rather than adhering to divine truth, seeking to have their beliefs recognized as authoritative. Therefore, it is justifiable that they deserve to be removed by the Lord for their erroneous doctrine. The Lord states, "Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted shall be uprooted." In truth, their teachings were not from God but rather from humanity. Likewise, all corrupt teachings—those of the scribes and Pharisees as well as any heretical views—will be uprooted by the Lord. Though these beliefs may spread their branches of disbelief for a time, they cannot take deep root because they are not rooted in God, but in the adversary. Furthermore, they must be eliminated and destined for eternal destruction, as they do not yield the fruits of faith and redemption.

The Lord once more asserts His verdict regarding the Pharisees as beyond redemption: He declared, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted." This means that any teaching not originating from God and incompatible with His truth will ultimately be eradicated. Teachings that do not align with divine revelation shall disappear, and those who create or uphold such false doctrines will ultimately fall short when confronted with God's Word; in due time, their falsehoods will be revealed.

The Pharisees were not content merely to highlight the inconsistencies between their traditions and God's commandments. Their discontent grew further when Jesus openly referred to their devotion as hypocrisy. A fresh opportunity for their ire toward Him arose from His latest statement, which they could relate to the dietary laws broadly. Protected by the Lord, the disciples perceived this affront to the Pharisees. Still, likely holding onto some respect for previous customs and acknowledging the significance of the scribes of Jerusalem among the populace, they reported to their teacher that the Pharisees were offended by His teaching. However, He continued to address the matter calmly, reassuring His followers that there was no cause for alarm.

After addressing the insincerity of the Pharisees, the Lord drew the crowd closer and taught them what truly constitutes defilement that renders a person guilty before God. He emphasized a fundamental principle: it's not what enters the mouth that defiles a person, but rather what emerges from the mouth that can lead to defilement. Following this proclamation, the Lord entered a house, where His disciples approached Him, bringing word—only noted by Matthew—that the Pharisees were offended by His teaching. The disciples may have felt uneasy that Christ’s message had inadvertently led to the stumbling of those it was meant to uplift, or perhaps they themselves wrestled with the implications of His statement regarding what does not defile through ingestion.

Seeing His disciples in a state of confusion, Jesus conveyed a parable to them. He likened the word of God to a seed that a gardener sows and equated the rebirth of humanity through God's word to the development of a plant emerging from that seed. The gardener attentively oversees the flourishing of his sowing; any growth that arises outside his intent—that is, plants that sprout without being deliberately sown by him—are promptly removed from the garden. In the same manner, any teaching lacking the truth of God at its foundation will inevitably be rejected. Every plant that my heavenly Father has not cultivated will be uprooted; leave them alone; they are the blind leading the blind; and when the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.

The metaphor of a plant represents either the teachings of the Pharisees regarding the elders' traditions, which the Lord critiques in this dialogue, or the Pharisees themselves, whom Christ contrasts with His own teachings. Doctrine is frequently likened to a plant (1 Cor. 3:6-8), rooted in the spirit so that it may flourish throughout life, ultimately yielding the fruits of righteousness as demonstrated in one's actions. Likewise, individuals are often depicted as plants or trees, with the righteous compared to good plants and the unrighteous to bad ones (see note on Matthew 3:8, 10).

The teachings of the Lord presented a perplexing perspective to the Jewish scholars, who were preoccupied with trivial and entirely external regulations concerning purity and defilement. The disciples inquired of Him, “Are you, like the Pharisees who received the message, being tested?” In response, the Lord utilized the analogy of a plant to illustrate that any belief system that fails to align with God’s revealed truth will ultimately lose its authority and relevance. This is true of the Pharisees, who were spiritually blind guides leading the people and placing their trust in perilous leadership. Just as it is stated, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted,” the Lord declared, “let them be; the blind lead the blind, and both will fall into a pit.”