151 Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said , 2 "Why e do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders ? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread ." 3 And He answered and said to them, "Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition ? 4 "For God said , ' HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER ,' and, ' HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH .' 5 "But you say , 'Whoever e says to his father or mother , "Whatever e I have that would help you has been given to God," 6 he is not to honor his father or his mother .' And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition . 7 "You hypocrites , rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: 8 ' THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS , BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 9 'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN .' "
10 After Jesus called the crowd to Him, He said to them, "Hear and understand . 11 " It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man , but what proceeds out of the mouth , this defiles the man ." 12 Then the disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement ?" 13 But He answered and said , " Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted . 14 "Let them alone ; they are blind guides of the blind . And if a blind man guides a blind man , both will fall into a pit ." 15 Peter said to Him, " Explain the parable to us." 16 Jesus said , "Are you still lacking in understanding also ? 17 "Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach , and is eliminated e ? 18 "But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart , and those defile the man . 19 " For out of the heart come evil thoughts , murders , adulteries , fornications , thefts , false witness , slanders . 20 "These are the things which defile the man ; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 15:1-20
Commentary on Matthew 15:1-9
(Read Matthew 15:1-9)
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.
Commentary on Matthew 15:10-20
(Read Matthew 15:10-20)
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, Jeremiah 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.