Matthew 15

1 Then there came to Jesus from Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes, saying,

2 Why do your disciples go against the teaching of the fathers? for they take food with unwashed hands.

3 And in answer he said to them, Why do you, yourselves, go against the word of God on account of the teaching which has been handed down to you?

4 For God said, Give honour to your father and mother: and, He who says evil of father or mother will be put to death.

5 But you say, If a man says to his father or his mother, That by which you might have had profit from me is given to God;

6 There is no need for him to give honour to his father. And you have made the word of God without effect because of your teaching.

7 You false ones, well did Isaiah say of you,

8 These people give me honour with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

9 But their worship is to no purpose, while they give as their teaching the rules of men.

10 And he got the people together and said to them, Give ear, and let my words be clear to you:

11 Not that which goes into the mouth makes a man unclean, but that which comes out of the mouth.

12 Then the disciples came and said to him, Did you see that the Pharisees were troubled when these words came to their ears?

13 But he said in answer, Every plant which my Father in heaven has not put in the earth, will be taken up by the roots.

14 Let them be: they are blind guides. And if a blind man is guiding a blind man, the two will go falling into a hole together.

15 Then Peter said to him, Make the story clear to us.

16 And he said, Are you, like them, still without wisdom?

17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth goes on into the stomach, and is sent out as waste?

18 But the things which come out of the mouth come from the heart; and they make a man unclean.

19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, the taking of life, broken faith between the married, unclean desires of the flesh, taking of property, false witness, bitter words:

20 These are the things which make a man unclean; but to take food with unwashed hands does not make a man unclean.

21 And Jesus went away from there into the country of Tyre and Sidon.

22 And a woman of Canaan came out from those parts, crying and saying, Have pity on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is greatly troubled with an unclean spirit.

23 But he gave her no answer. And his disciples came and said to him, Send her away, for she is crying after us.

24 But he made answer and said, I was sent only to the wandering sheep of the house of Israel.

25 But she came and gave him worship, saying, Help, Lord.

26 And he made answer and said, It is not right to take the children's bread and give it to the dogs.

27 But she said, Yes, Lord: but even the dogs take the bits from under their masters' table.

28 Then Jesus, answering, said to her, O woman, great is your faith: let your desire be done. And her daughter was made well from that hour.

29 And Jesus went from there and came to the sea of Galilee; and he went up into the mountain, and took his seat there.

30 And there came to him great numbers of people having with them those who were broken in body, or blind, or without voice, or wounded, or ill in any way, and a number of others; they put them down at his feet and he made them well:

31 So that the people were full of wonder when they saw that those who had no voice were talking, the feeble were made strong, those whose bodies were broken had the power of walking, and the blind were able to see: and they gave glory to the God of Israel.

32 And Jesus got his disciples together and said, I have pity for the people, because they have now been with me three days and have no food: and I will not send them away without food, or they will have no strength for the journey.

33 And the disciples say to him, How may we get enough bread in a waste place, to give food to such a number of people?

34 And Jesus says to them, How much bread have you? And they said, Seven cakes, and some small fishes.

35 Then he gave an order to the people to be seated on the earth,

36 And he took the seven cakes of bread and the fishes; and having given praise, he gave the broken bread to the disciples, and the disciples gave it to the people.

37 And they all took food, and had enough; and they took up of the broken bits, seven baskets full.

38 And there were four thousand men who took food, together with women and children.

39 And when he had sent the people away, he got into the boat, and came into the country of Magadan.

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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.