Matthew 15

1 Then come unto Jesus do they from Jerusalem -- scribes and Pharisees -- saying,

2 `Wherefore do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they do not wash their hands when they may eat bread.'

3 And he answering said to them, `Wherefore also do ye transgress the command of God because of your tradition?

4 for God did command, saying, Honour thy father and mother; and, He who is speaking evil of father or mother -- let him die the death;

5 but ye say, Whoever may say to father or mother, An offering [is] whatever thou mayest be profited by me; --

6 and he may not honour his father or his mother, and ye did set aside the command of God because of your tradition.

7 `Hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,

8 This people doth draw nigh to Me with their mouth, and with the lips it doth honour Me, but their heart is far off from Me;

9 and in vain do they worship Me, teaching teachings -- commands of men.'

10 And having called near the multitude, he said to them, `Hear and understand:

11 not that which is coming into the mouth doth defile the man, but that which is coming forth from the mouth, this defileth the man.'

12 Then his disciples having come near, said to him, `Hast thou known that the Pharisees, having heard the word, were stumbled?'

13 And he answering said, `Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant shall be rooted up;

14 let them alone, guides they are -- blind of blind; and if blind may guide blind, both into a ditch shall fall.'

15 And Peter answering said to him, `Explain to us this simile.'

16 And Jesus said, `Are ye also yet without understanding?

17 do ye not understand that all that is going into the mouth doth pass into the belly, and into the drain is cast forth?

18 but the things coming forth from the mouth from the heart do come forth, and these defile the man;

19 for out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, whoredoms, thefts, false witnessings, evil speakings:

20 these are the things defiling the man; but to eat with unwashen hands doth not defile the man.'

21 And Jesus having come forth thence, withdrew to the parts of Tyre and Sidon,

22 and lo, a woman, a Canaanitess, from those borders having come forth, did call to him, saying, `Deal kindly with me, Sir -- Son of David; my daughter is miserably demonized.'

23 And he did not answer her a word; and his disciples having come to him, were asking him, saying -- `Let her away, because she crieth after us;'

24 and he answering said, `I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.'

25 And having come, she was bowing to him, saying, `Sir, help me;'

26 and he answering said, `It is not good to take the children's bread, and to cast to the little dogs.'

27 And she said, `Yes, sir, for even the little dogs do eat of the crumbs that are falling from their lords' table;'

28 then answering, Jesus said to her, `O woman, great [is] thy faith, let it be to thee as thou wilt;' and her daughter was healed from that hour.

29 And Jesus having passed thence, came nigh unto the sea of Galilee, and having gone up to the mountain, he was sitting there,

30 and there came to him great multitudes, having with them lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and they did cast them at the feet of Jesus, and he healed them,

31 so that the multitudes did wonder, seeing dumb ones speaking, maimed whole, lame walking, and blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

32 And Jesus having called near his disciples, said, `I have compassion upon the multitude, because now three days they continue with me, and they have not what they may eat; and to let them away fasting I will not, lest they faint in the way.'

33 And his disciples say to him, `Whence to us, in a wilderness, so many loaves, as to fill so great a multitude?'

34 And Jesus saith to them, `How many loaves have ye?' and they said, `Seven, and a few little fishes.'

35 And he commanded the multitudes to sit down upon the ground,

36 and having taken the seven loaves and the fishes, having given thanks, he did break, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

37 And they did all eat, and were filled, and they took up what was over of the broken pieces seven baskets full,

38 and those eating were four thousand men, apart from women and children.

39 And having let away the multitudes, he went into the boat, and did come to the borders of Magdala.

Matthew 15 Commentary

Chapter 15

Jesus discourses about human traditions. (1-9) He warns against things which really defile. (10-20) He heals the daughter of a Syrophenician woman. (21-28) Jesus heals the sick, and miraculously feeds four thousand. (29-39)

Verses 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.

Verses 10-20 Christ shows that the defilement they ought to fear, was not from what entered their mouths as food, but from what came out of their mouths, which showed the wickedness of their hearts. Nothing will last in the soul but the regenerating graces of the Holy Spirit; and nothing should be admitted into the church but what is from above; therefore, whoever is offended by a plain, seasonable declaration of the truth, we should not be troubled at it. The disciples ask to be better taught as to this matter. Where a weak head doubts concerning any word of Christ, an upright heart and a willing mind seek for instruction. It is the heart that is desperately wicked, Jer. 17:9 , for there is no sin in word or deed, which was not first in the heart. They all come out of the man, and are fruits of that wickedness which is in the heart, and is wrought there. When Christ teaches, he will show men the deceitfulness and wickedness of their own hearts; he will teach them to humble themselves, and to seek to be cleansed in the Fountain opened for sin and uncleanness.

Verses 21-28 The dark corners of the country, the most remote, shall share Christ's influences; afterwards the ends of the earth shall see his salvation. The distress and trouble of her family brought a woman to Christ; and though it is need that drives us to Christ, yet we shall not therefore be driven from him. She did not limit Christ to any particular instance of mercy, but mercy, mercy, is what she begged for: she pleads not merit, but depends upon mercy. It is the duty of parents to pray for their children, and to be earnest in prayer for them, especially for their souls. Have you a son, a daughter, grievously vexed with a proud devil, an unclean devil, a malicious devil, led captive by him at his will? this is a case more deplorable than that of bodily possession, and you must bring them by faith and prayer to Christ, who alone is able to heal them. Many methods of Christ's providence, especially of his grace, in dealing with his people, which are dark and perplexing, may be explained by this story, which teaches that there may be love in Christ's heart while there are frowns in his face; and it encourages us, though he seems ready to slay us, yet to trust in him. Those whom Christ intends most to honour, he humbles to feel their own unworthiness. A proud, unhumbled heart would not have borne this; but she turned it into an argument to support her request. The state of this woman is an emblem of the state of a sinner, deeply conscious of the misery of his soul. The least of Christ is precious to a believer, even the very crumbs of the Bread of life. Of all graces, faith honours Christ most; therefore of all graces Christ honours faith most. He cured her daughter. He spake, and it was done. From hence let such as seek help from the Lord, and receive no gracious answer, learn to turn even their unworthiness and discouragements into pleas for mercy.

Verses 29-39 Whatever our case is, the only way to find ease and relief, is to lay it at Christ's feet, to submit it to him, and refer it to his disposal. Those who would have spiritual healing from Christ, must be ruled as he pleases. See what work sin has made; what various diseases human bodies are subject to. Here were such diseases as fancy could neither guess the cause nor the cure of, yet these were subject to the command of Christ. The spiritual cures that Christ works are wonderful. When blind souls are made to see by faith, the dumb to speak in prayer, the maimed and the lame to walk in holy obedience, it is to be wondered at. His power was also shown to the multitude, in the plentiful provision he made for them: the manner is much the same as before. All did eat, and were filled. Those whom Christ feeds, he fills. With Christ there is bread enough, and to spare; supplies of grace for more than seek it, and for those that seek for more. Christ sent away the people. Though he had fed them twice, they must not look for miracles to find their daily bread. Let them go home to their callings and their own tables. Lord, increase our faith, and pardon our unbelief, teaching us to live upon thy fulness and bounty, for all things pertaining to this life, and that which is to come.