Scripture Study: Matthew 15

From: Young Christian: Volume 3, 1913

Matthew 15 • 6 min. read • grade level: 7

Matthew 15

What a contrast is seen here between man and God. Man satisfies himself with outward show. God desires the purity and obedience that suits the light of His presence. Man used the law and ordinances to adorn himself. God had given it to prove to him the exceeding sinfulness of sin. The Pharisees’ systematic teaching set aside the Word of God, and in pretended piety went on with concealed Iniquity, lower than natural conscience. They used the law to minister to their pride, instead of seeing the corruptness of their hearts. Their own will and indulgence in lust was preferred to the duties God imposed upon them — washing their hands instead of purifying their hearts. It was outside show; God could not accept the worship of hypocrites.

This is what we find in Matthew 15:1-9¹Then 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, Honor 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 honor 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 honoreth 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. (Matthew 15:1‑9). The scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem spoke to Him of His disciples transgressing the traditions of the elders. It seemed serious to them that such ancient rules should be set aside. The Lord goes straight to the point. “Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. (Ex. 21:17¹⁷And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death. (Exodus 21:17)). But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; and honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free.” If instead of supporting their parents, the money needed to do so was given to the priest, or temple service, then the children were free, that is, they did not need to support their parents. “Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoreth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me. But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” The Lord uncovers the heart of these hypocrites who set aside His Word to carry out their own traditions. It did not look bad to wash their hands before eating, but the Lord saw that it was only outward show, and God was not known in His true character.

And does not the Lord still see this evil in the professing church? Is not His Word set aside by the imposed rules and regulations of men? The living Savior is neglected for ordinances called means of grace.

The Holy Spirit’s presence on earth is set aside by the minister or chairman of today who rules the meetings. The living reality of His presence in the Christian is slighted by repeating prayers or reading them out of a book (Rom. 8:26²⁶Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26); Jude 20²⁰But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, (Jude 20)), and what is called church membership is claimed instead of “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”. And well might Esaias prophesy also of this present generation, for 2 Timothy 3:1-7¹This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. ²For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, ⁴Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; ⁵Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. ⁶For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ⁷Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1‑7), is descriptive of Christendom now.

Matthew 15:10-11¹⁰And 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. (Matthew 15:10‑11). The Lord now calls the multitude and said unto them, “Hear and understand: not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.” God begins inside; man is a sinner, his heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. (Jer. 17:9⁹The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)).

Matthew 15:12¹²Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? (Matthew 15:12). But this offends those religious hypocrites, and the disciples tell Him of it. “Knowest Thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?” The Lord now tells their terrible condition.

Matthew 15:13-14¹³But 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. (Matthew 15:13‑14). “Every plant, which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” Terrible indeed was their condition, and terrible is the end of all Christless profession.

Matthew 15:15-20¹⁵Then 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. (Matthew 15:15‑20). But Peter did not understand it, and said, “Declare unto us this parable.” The Lord answered, “Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draft? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” What a sink of iniquity the heart of fallen man is, including my heart and yours! How necessary it is to know that Romans 6:6⁶Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (Romans 6:6), is God’s judgment upon it, and that now we are to reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord: and this we are to do diligently.

Matthew 15:21²¹Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. (Matthew 15:21). The Lord now departs, leaving the learned professors and infidels with their religion and their arguments, to go to the cities of Tire and Sidon — cities famous for their ignorant wickedness (Matt. 11:21,22²¹Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²²But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. (Matthew 11:21‑22)).

Matthew 15:22-28²²And, 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. (Matthew 15:22‑28). A woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and her daughter is possessed of a demon. She cries unto Him: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil” (demon). But as “Son of David” she had not the slightest claim on His mercy, nevertheless, her faith recognizes Him as such. He answers her not a word, yet His heart is full of mercy, He is but wanting the proper condition in her to give the blessing. The disciples do not understand, they came and besought Him, “Send her away, for she crieth after us.” As “Son of David He could not help her, neither would he send her away. His answer to them is”, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshipped Him. Her faith owned He was Israel’s Messiah, but greater still, He was God; He could meet her need, so she said, “Lord, help me.” Can His loving heart resist such an appeal? It was needful to do so for a moment, while He says, “It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.” This seemed hard, but it was true; there were no promises to Gentile dogs, God had chosen Israel as His people. Yes, she owned that, too; but her faith counted on the grace of His heart, and she said, “Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their Master’s table.” How this pleased Him, as faith ever does; and how His heart gives forth the pent up blessing: “O, woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”