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 ."
21 Jesus went away from there , and withdrew into the district of Tyre and Sidon . 22 And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying , "Have mercy on me, Lord , Son of David ; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed ." 23 But He did not answer her a word . And His disciples came and implored Him, saying , "Send her away , because she keeps shouting at us." 24 But He answered and said , "I was sent only e e to the lost sheep of the house of Israel ." 25 But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying , "Lord , help me!" 26 And He answered and said , "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 15:1-26
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.
Commentary on Matthew 15:21-28
(Read Matthew 15:21-28)
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.