Matthew 15:12

12 Then his disciples came, and said to him, Thou knowest, that, if this word be heard, the Pharisees be offended? [Then his disciples coming nigh said to him, Knowest thou, that, this word heard, Pharisees be offended?]

Matthew 15:12 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 15:12

Then came his disciples, and said unto him
That is, after he had dismissed the people, and was come into a private house; see ( Mark 7:17 ) his disciples came to him, being alone, full of concern, for what he had said to the Pharisees, and before all the people; and not so well understanding it themselves.

Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended after they heard this
saying?,
that they set aside the commandments of God, by observing the traditions of the elders; or that they were hypocrites; and that the prophecy of Isaiah, which describes such persons, belonging to them; or that not what goes into, but what comes out of a man, defiles him: whichever it was they have respect unto, or it may be to the whole, they seem to wish Christ had not said it; because the Pharisees were, as they thought, grieved and troubled at it, as being contrary to true religion and piety; and lest they should be so stumbled, as no more to attend, and so all hopes of bringing them over to the faith of Christ be lost; and chiefly, because they perceived they were made exceeding angry, and were highly provoked; so that they might fear that both Christ, and they themselves, would feel the effects of their wrath and rage; and perhaps it was with some such view, that he would take some prudential step that he might not fall into their hands, that they acquaint him with it.

Matthew 15:12 In-Context

10 And when the people were called together to him, he said to them, Hear ye, and understand ye. [+And the companies called together to him, he said to them, Hear, and understand.]

11 That thing that entereth into the mouth, defouleth not a man [Not that thing that entereth into the mouth, defouleth a man]; but that thing that cometh out of the mouth, defouleth a man.

12 Then his disciples came, and said to him, Thou knowest, that, if this word be heard, the Pharisees be offended? [Then his disciples coming nigh said to him, Knowest thou, that, this word heard, Pharisees be offended?]

13 And he answered, and said, Every planting, that my Father of heaven hath not planted [which my Father of heaven hath not planted], shall be drawn up by the root.

14 Suffer ye them; they be blind, and leaders of blind men. And if a blind man lead a blind man, both fall into the ditch [both fall down into the ditch].