Matthew 15ASV
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Matthew15

American Standard Version · Public Domain

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

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

3And he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?

4For God said, Honor thy father and thy mother: and, He that speaketh evil of father or mother, let him die the death.

5But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is given to God;

6he shall not honor his father. And ye have made void the word of God because of your tradition.

7Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,

8This people honoreth me with their lips; But their heart is far from me.

9But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.

10And he called to him the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:

11Not that which entereth into the mouth defileth the man; but that which proceedeth out of the mouth, this defileth the man.

12Then came the disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying?

13But he answered and said, Every plant which my heavenly Father planted not, shall be rooted up.

14Let them alone: they are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both shall fall into a pit.

15And Peter answered and said unto him, Declare unto us the parable.

16And he said, Are ye also even yet without understanding?

17Perceive ye not, that whatsoever goeth into the mouth passeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

18But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man.

19For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings:

20these are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not the man.

21And Jesus went out thence, and withdrew into the parts of Tyre and Sidon.

22And behold, a Canaanitish woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a demon.

23But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

24But he answered and said, I was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

25But she came and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

26And he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread and cast it to the dogs.

27But she said, Yea, Lord: for even the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

28Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it done unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was healed from that hour.

29And Jesus departed thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and he went up into the mountain, and sat there.

30And there came unto him great multitudes, having with them the lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and they cast them down at his feet; and he healed them:

31insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb speaking, the maimed whole, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing: and they glorified the God of Israel.

32And Jesus called unto him his disciples, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat: and I would not send them away fasting, lest haply they faint on the way.

33And the disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so many loaves in a desert place as to fill so great a multitude?

34And Jesus said unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few small fishes.

35And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground;

36and he took the seven loaves and the fishes; and he gave thanks and brake, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.

37And they all ate, and were filled: and they took up that which remained over of the broken pieces, seven baskets full.

38And they that did eat were four thousand men, besides women and children.

39And he sent away the multitudes, and entered into the boat, and came into the borders of Magadan.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Matthew 15.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: 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).

vv1-9

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.

vv10-20

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.

vv21-28

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.

Cross References

Matthew 15
v4Exodus 21:17quotation

Jesus quotes this Mosaic law verbatim to expose the fatal consequences of the Pharisees' tradition.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v4Exodus 20:12quotation

The Fifth Commandment quoted by Jesus to contrast God's authority with voiding traditions.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v7Isaiah 29:13quotation

Jesus directly quotes Isaiah 29:13 to rebuke the hypocritical, lip-service worship of the scribes and Pharisees.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB

v1Mark 7:1-13thematic

The direct parallel account in Mark, detailing the Jewish ceremonial handwashing rituals and traditions.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v19Jeremiah 17:9thematic

Prophetic parallel on the deceitful nature of the human heart, out of which all evil proceeds.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v13John 15:2thematic

Echoes Christ's teaching on the heavenly Father removing and pruning plants/branches He did not plant.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v24Romans 15:8thematic

Confirms Christ was sent as a minister of the circumcision to fulfill promises made to Israel.

Supported by JFB

v24Matthew 10:6thematic

Identical language where Jesus instructs His disciples to go only to the lost sheep of Israel.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v36Matthew 14:19-21thematic

The previous feeding of the five thousand, showing identical actions of giving thanks, breaking, and distributing.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v9Colossians 2:22thematic

Paul's warning against doctrines and commandments of men regarding food, echoing Jesus' words.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v26Isaiah 56:3thematic

Thematic parallel addressing the inclusion of the stranger/Gentile, relevant to the Canaanite woman.

Supported by JFB

v26Mark 7:27thematic

Parallel text for the Canaanite woman, noting children's bread must first be offered before dogs.

Supported by JFB

v30Isaiah 35:5fulfillment

Messianic prophecy of the lame leaping and the blind seeing, fulfilled in Jesus' healings.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v39Mark 8:10thematic

Parallel geographical destination after feeding the four thousand, recorded there as Dalmanutha.

Supported by JFB

v15Mark 7:17thematic

Parallel verse showing the disciples asking Jesus to explain the parable of defilement privately.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v25Genesis 32:26typology

Jacob's persistent wrestling with God typifies the Canaanite woman's refusal to let go without a blessing.

Supported by Matthew Henry