The Gospels · Chapter 15 of 28

Matthew 15

Jesus confronts the scribes and Pharisees for setting human tradition above God's command and teaches that defilement comes from the heart, not unwashed hands. Traveling to Tyre and Sidon, he honors the persistent faith of a Canaanite woman and heals her daughter. He heals many by the sea of Galilee, and with compassion for a hungry multitude he feeds four thousand men, besides women and children, from seven loaves and a few fish.

What happens in Matthew 15

Scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem accuse Jesus's disciples of breaking tradition by eating with unwashed hands. Jesus replies that they nullify God's command to honor father and mother through their tradition, and he calls them hypocrites, applying Isaiah's words about lips near God while hearts are far. He teaches the crowd that what enters the mouth does not defile, but what proceeds from the heart defiles a person. Departing to Tyre and Sidon, he meets a Canaanite woman crying for mercy on her demon vexed daughter.

He tests her, saying children's bread should not be thrown to dogs; she answers that even dogs eat crumbs, and he praises her great faith and heals her daughter. Back by the sea he heals the lame, blind, and maimed, and the crowds glorify Israel's God. Moved with compassion for a hungry multitude, he feeds four thousand from seven loaves and a few fish, with seven baskets left over.

Matthew 15 in context

The clash over ritual purity sharpens the divide between Jesus and the Jerusalem authorities, as he redefines true defilement in terms of the heart rather than the hands. Jesus then deliberately moves into Gentile territory, where a Canaanite woman's persistent faith and a second feeding miracle both hint that the bread of the kingdom will one day extend beyond Israel to the nations, quietly anticipating the wider mission to come.

Main themes of Matthew 15

Matthew 15 (KJV)

1Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 10And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 11Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 12Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? 13But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. 15Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. 16And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? 17Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. 21Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 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 am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27And she said, Truth, Lord: yet 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 unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. 29And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. 30And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them: 31Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel. 32Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. 33And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? 34And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. 35And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 36And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 37And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. 38And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children. 39And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.

Verses to carry from Matthew 15

“Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.”Matthew 15:11

“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:”Matthew 15:19

“Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”Matthew 15:28

Reflection

Jesus is not fooled by outward performance; he sees the heart, and he alone can cleanse it. He also welcomes the faith that keeps coming even after silence or hard words. Like the Canaanite mother, we can hold on to his mercy, sure that the Lord who feeds multitudes has bread enough for us.

A prayer from Matthew 15