1 Then G5119 came G4334 to Jesus G2424 scribes G1122 and G2532 Pharisees, G5330 which were of G575 Jerusalem, G2414 saying, G3004
2 Why G1302 do thy G4675 disciples G3101 transgress G3845 the tradition G3862 of the elders? G4245 for G1063 they wash G3538 not G3756 their G846 hands G5495 when G3752 they eat G2068 bread. G740
3 But G1161 he answered G611 and said G2036 unto them, G846 Why G1302 do ye G5210 also G2532 transgress G3845 the commandment G1785 of God G2316 by G1223 your G5216 tradition? G3862
4 For G1063 God G2316 commanded, G1781 saying, G3004 Honour G5091 thy G4675 father G3962 and G2532 mother: G3384 and, G2532 He that curseth G2551 father G3962 or G2228 mother, G3384 let him die G5053 the death. G2288
5 But G1161 ye G5210 say, G3004 Whosoever G3739 G302 shall say G2036 to his father G3962 or G2228 his mother, G3384 It is a gift, G1435 by G1537 whatsoever G3739 G1437 thou mightest be profited G5623 by me; G1700
6 And G2532 honour G5091 not G3364 his G846 father G3962 or G2228 his G846 mother, G3384 he shall be free. Thus G2532 have ye made G208 the commandment G1785 of God G2316 of none effect G208 by G1223 your G5216 tradition. G3862
7 Ye hypocrites, G5273 well G2573 did G4395 Esaias G2268 prophesy G4395 of G4012 you, G5216 saying, G3004
8 This G3778 people G2992 draweth nigh G1448 unto me G3427 with their G846 mouth, G4750 and G2532 honoureth G5091 me G3165 with their lips; G5491 but G1161 their G846 heart G2588 is G568 far G4206 from G575 me. G1700
9 But G1161 in vain G3155 they do worship G4576 me, G3165 teaching G1321 for doctrines G1319 the commandments G1778 of men. G444
10 And G2532 he called G4341 the multitude, G3793 and said G2036 unto them, G846 Hear, G191 and G2532 understand G4920 :
11 Not G3756 that which goeth G1525 into G1519 the mouth G4750 defileth G2840 a man; G444 but G235 that which cometh G1607 out of G1537 the mouth, G4750 this G5124 defileth G2840 a man. G444
12 Then G5119 came G4334 his G846 disciples, G3101 and said G2036 unto him, G846 Knowest thou G1492 that G3754 the Pharisees G5330 were offended, G4624 after they heard G191 this saying? G3056
13 But G1161 he answered G611 and said, G2036 Every G3956 plant, G5451 which G3739 my G3450 heavenly G3770 Father G3962 hath G5452 not G3756 planted, G5452 shall be rooted up. G1610
14 Let G863 them G846 alone: G863 they be G1526 blind G5185 leaders G3595 of the blind. G5185 And G1161 if G1437 the blind G5185 lead G3594 the blind, G5185 both G297 shall fall G4098 into G1519 the ditch. G999
15 Then G1161 answered G611 Peter G4074 and said G2036 unto him, G846 Declare G5419 unto us G2254 this G5026 parable. G3850
16 And G1161 Jesus G2424 said, G2036 Are G2075 ye G5210 also G2532 yet G188 without understanding? G801
17 Do G3539 not G3768 ye G3539 yet G3768 understand, G3539 that G3754 whatsoever G3956 entereth in G1531 at G1519 the mouth G4750 goeth G5562 into G1519 the belly, G2836 and G2532 is cast out G1544 into G1519 the draught? G856
18 But G1161 those things which G3588 proceed G1607 out of G1537 the mouth G4750 come forth G1831 from G1537 the heart; G2588 and they G2548 defile G2840 the man. G444
19 For G1063 out of G1537 the heart G2588 proceed G1831 evil G4190 thoughts, G1261 murders, G5408 adulteries, G3430 fornications, G4202 thefts, G2829 false witness, G5577 blasphemies: G988
20 These G5023 are G2076 the things which G3588 defile G2840 a man: G444 but G1161 to eat G5315 with unwashen G449 hands G5495 defileth G2840 not G3756 a man. G444
21 Then G2532 Jesus G2424 went G1831 thence, G1564 and departed G402 into G1519 the coasts G3313 of Tyre G5184 and G2532 Sidon. G4605
22 And, G2532 behold, G2400 a woman G1135 of Canaan G5478 came G1831 out of G575 the same G1565 coasts, G3725 and cried G2905 unto him, G846 saying, G3004 Have mercy G1653 on me, G3165 O Lord, G2962 thou Son G5207 of David; G1138 my G3450 daughter G2364 is grievously G2560 vexed with a devil. G1139
23 But G1161 he answered G611 her G846 not G3756 a word. G3056 And G2532 his G846 disciples G3101 came G4334 and besought G2065 him, G846 saying, G3004 Send G630 her G846 away; G630 for G3754 she crieth G2896 after G3693 us. G2257
24 But G1161 he answered G611 and said, G2036 I am G649 not G3756 sent G649 but G1508 unto G1519 the lost G622 sheep G4263 of the house G3624 of Israel. G2474
25 Then G1161 came she G2064 and worshipped G4352 him, G846 saying, G3004 Lord, G2962 help G997 me. G3427
26 But G1161 he answered G611 and said, G2036 It is G2076 not G3756 meet G2570 to take G2983 the children's G5043 bread, G740 and G2532 to cast G906 it to dogs. G2952
27 And G1161 she said, G2036 Truth, G3483 Lord: G2962 yet G2532 G1063 the dogs G2952 eat G2068 of G575 the crumbs G5589 which G3588 fall G4098 from G575 their G846 masters' G2962 table. G5132
28 Then G5119 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and said G2036 unto her, G846 O G5599 woman, G1135 great G3173 is thy G4675 faith: G4102 be it G1096 unto thee G4671 even as G5613 thou wilt. G2309 And G2532 her G846 daughter G2364 was made whole G2390 from G575 that very G1565 hour. G5610
29 And G2532 Jesus G2424 departed G3327 from thence, G1564 and came G2064 nigh unto G3844 the sea G2281 of Galilee; G1056 and G2532 went up G305 into G1519 a mountain, G3735 and sat down G2521 there. G1563
30 And G2532 great G4183 multitudes G3793 came G4334 unto him, G846 having G2192 with G3326 them those that were G1438 lame, G5560 blind, G5185 dumb, G2974 maimed, G2948 and G2532 many G4183 others, G2087 and G2532 cast G4496 them G846 down G4496 at G3844 Jesus' G2424 feet; G4228 and G2532 he healed G2323 them: G846
31 Insomuch that G5620 the multitude G3793 wondered, G2296 when they saw G991 the dumb G2974 to speak, G2980 the maimed G2948 to be whole, G5199 the lame G5560 to walk, G4043 and G2532 the blind G5185 to see: G991 and G2532 they glorified G1392 the God G2316 of Israel. G2474
32 Then G1161 Jesus G2424 called G4341 his G846 disciples G3101 unto him, and said, G2036 I have compassion G4697 on G1909 the multitude, G3793 because G3754 they continue G4357 with me G3427 now G2235 three G5140 days, G2250 and G2532 have G2192 nothing G3756 G5101 to eat: G5315 and G2532 I will G2309 not G3756 send G630 them G846 away G630 fasting, G3523 lest G3379 they faint G1590 in G1722 the way. G3598
33 And G2532 his G846 disciples G3101 say G3004 unto him, G846 Whence G4159 should we G2254 have so much G5118 bread G740 in G1722 the wilderness, G2047 as G5620 to fill G5526 so great G5118 a multitude? G3793
34 And G2532 Jesus G2424 saith G3004 unto them, G846 How many G4214 loaves G740 have ye? G2192 And G1161 they said, G2036 Seven, G2033 and G2532 a few G3641 little fishes. G2485
35 And G2532 he commanded G2753 the multitude G3793 to sit down G377 on G1909 the ground. G1093
36 And G2532 he took G2983 the seven G2033 loaves G740 and G2532 the fishes, G2486 and gave thanks, G2168 and brake G2806 them, and G2532 gave G1325 to his G846 disciples, G3101 and G1161 the disciples G3101 to the multitude. G3793
37 And G2532 they did G5315 all G3956 eat, G5315 and G2532 were filled: G5526 and G2532 they took up G142 of the broken G2801 meat that was left G4052 seven G2033 baskets G4711 full. G4134
38 And G1161 they that did eat G2068 were G2258 four thousand G5070 men, G435 beside G5565 women G1135 and G2532 children. G3813
39 And G2532 he sent away G630 the multitude, G3793 and took G1684 ship, G1519 G4143 and G2532 came G2064 into G1519 the coasts G3725 of Magdala. G3093
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Matthew 15
Commentary on Matthew 15 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 15
Mt 15:1-20. Discourse on Ceremonial Pollution. ( = Mr 7:1, 23).
The time of this section was after that Passover which was nigh at hand when our Lord fed the five thousand (Joh 6:4)—the third Passover, as we take it, since His public ministry began, but which He did not keep at Jerusalem for the reason mentioned in Joh 7:1.
1. Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem—or "from Jerusalem." Mark (Mr 7:1) says they "came from" it: a deputation probably sent from the capital expressly to watch Him. As He had not come to them at the last Passover, which they had reckoned on, they now come to Him. "And," says Mark (Mr 7:2, 3), "when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen hands"—hands not ceremonially cleansed by washing—"they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft"—literally, "in" or "with the fist"; that is, probably washing the one hand by the use of the other—though some understand it, with our version, in the sense of "diligently," "sedulously"—"eat not, holding the tradition of the elders"; acting religiously according to the custom handed down to them. "And when they come from the market" (Mr 7:4)—"And after market": after any common business, or attending a court of justice, where the Jews, as Webster and Wilkinson remark, after their subjection to the Romans, were especially exposed to intercourse and contact with heathens—"except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups and pots, brazen vessels and tables"—rather, "couches," such as were used at meals, which probably were merely sprinkled for ceremonial purposes. "Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him,"
saying—as follows:
2. Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
3. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?—The charge is retorted with startling power: "The tradition they transgress is but man's, and is itself the occasion of heavy transgression, undermining the authority of God's law."
4. For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother—(De 5:16).
and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death—(Ex 21:17).
5. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift—or simply, "A gift!" In Mark (Mr 7:11), it is, "Corban!" that is, "An oblation!" meaning, any unbloody offering or gift dedicated to sacred uses.
by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
6. And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free—that is, It is true, father—mother—that by giving to thee this, which I now present, thou mightest be profited by me; but I have gifted it to pious uses, and therefore, at whatever cost to thee, I am not now at liberty to alienate any portion of it. "And," it is added in Mark (Mr 7:12), "ye suffer him no more to do aught for his father or his mother." To dedicate property to God is indeed lawful and laudable, but not at the expense of filial duty.
Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect—cancelled or nullified it "by your tradition."
7. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying—(Isa 29:13).
8. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, &c.—By putting the commandments of men on a level with the divine requirements, their whole worship was rendered vain—a principle of deep moment in the service of God. "For," it is added in Mr 7:8, "laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups; and many other such like things ye do." The drivelling nature of their multitudinous observances is here pointedly exposed, in contrast with the manly observance of "the commandment of God"; and when our Lord says, "Many other such like things ye do," it is implied that He had but given a specimen of the hideous treatment which the divine law received, and the grasping disposition which, under the mask of piety, was manifested by the ecclesiastics of that day.
10. And he called the multitude, and said unto them—The foregoing dialogue, though in the people's hearing, was between Jesus and the pharisaic cavillers, whose object was to disparage Him with the people. But Jesus, having put them down, turns to the multitude, who at this time were prepared to drink in everything He said, and with admirable plainness, strength, and brevity, lays down the great principle of real pollution, by which a world of bondage and uneasiness of conscience would be dissipated in a moment, and the sense of sin be reserved for deviations from the holy and eternal law of God.
Hear and understand:
11. Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man—This is expressed even more emphatically in Mark (Mr 7:15, 16), and it is there added, "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear." As in Mt 13:9, this so oft-repeated saying seems designed to call attention to the fundamental and universal character of the truth it refers to.
12. Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?—They had given vent to their irritation, and perhaps threats, not to our Lord Himself, from whom they seem to have slunk away, but to some of the disciples, who report it to their Master.
13. But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up—They are offended, are they? Heed it not: their corrupt teaching is already doomed: the garden of the Lord upon earth, too long cumbered with their presence, shall yet be purged of them and their accursed system: yea, and whatsoever is not of the planting of My heavenly Father, the great Husbandman (Joh 15:1), shall share the same fate.
14. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch—Striking expression of the ruinous effects of erroneous teaching!
15. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable—"when He was entered into the house from the people," says Mark (Mr 7:17).
16. And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?—Slowness of spiritual apprehension in His genuine disciples grieves the Saviour: from others He expects no better (Mt 13:11).
17, 18. Do not ye yet understand that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth, &c.—Familiar though these sayings have now become, what freedom from bondage to outward things do they proclaim, on the one hand; and on the other, how searching is the truth which they express—that nothing which enters from without can really defile us; and that only the evil that is in the heart, that is allowed to stir there, to rise up in thought and affection, and to flow forth in voluntary action, really defiles a man!
19. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts—"evil reasonings"; referring here more immediately to those corrupt reasonings which had stealthily introduced and gradually reared up that hideous fabric of tradition which at length practically nullified the unchangeable principles of the moral law. But the statement is far broader than this; namely that the first shape which the evil that is in the heart takes, when it begins actively to stir, is that of "considerations" or "reasonings" on certain suggested actions.
murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies—detractions, whether directed against God or man; here the reference seems to be to the latter. Mark (Mr 7:22) adds, "covetousnesses"—or desires after more; "wickednesses"—here meaning, perhaps, malignities of various forms; "deceit, lasciviousness"—meaning, excess or enormity of any kind, though by later writers restricted to lewdness; "an evil eye"—meaning, all looks or glances of envy, jealousy, or ill will towards a neighbor; "pride, foolishness"—in the Old Testament sense of "folly"; that is, criminal senselessness, the folly of the heart. How appalling is this black catalogue!
20. These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man—Thus does our Lord sum up this whole searching discourse.
Mt 15:21-28. The Woman of Canaan and Her Daughter.
For the exposition, see on Mr 7:24-30.
23. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us—(Also see on Mr 7:26.)
24. But he answered and said, I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel—(Also see on Mr 7:26.)
25. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me—(Also see on Mr 7:26.)
Mt 15:29-39. Miracles of Healing—Four Thousand Miraculously Fed.
For the exposition, see on Mr 7:31; Mr 8:10.