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Matthew 15

Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

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

But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

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 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.

Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth 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.

And he called 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.

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

But he answered and said, 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.

Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.

And Jesus said, 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 draught?

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.

Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

And, 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.

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

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

Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

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.

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

And 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:

Insomuch 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.

Then 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.

And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?

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

And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.

And 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.

And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.

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

And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala,

What does Matthew 15:12 mean?

Explanation

In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 15 verse 12, the disciples approach Jesus after he has made a comment that the Pharisees found offensive.

Jesus had previously criticized the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and adherence to man-made traditions over God's commandments.

The disciples, recognizing the influence and authority of the Pharisees among the Jewish people, are concerned about the repercussions of offending these religious leaders.

This verse sets the stage for Jesus to elaborate on his teaching and further address the heart of what defiles a person.

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Historical Context

Matthew 15:12 is set within the broader context of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee.

The Pharisees and scribes held significant religious sway and were strict adherents to Jewish law and traditions.

At the time, their views were considered authoritative, and they were quick to challenge Jesus, whom they saw as a threat to their power and understanding of religious practices.

The offense taken by the Pharisees likely stems from challenges to their authority and the emphasis on internal purity over external observances.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse opens the door to a discussion about inner vs. outer purity.

The Pharisees were concerned with meticulous observance of the law, often to the neglect of internal spiritual sincerity.

Jesus used the opportunity to teach that what truly defiles a person comes from the heart rather than from failure to adhere to certain rituals or dietary laws.

This teaching contradicts the Pharisees' belief system and places the emphasis on the transformation of the heart.

Practical Applications

The practical application of Matthew 15:12 in daily life is the importance of prioritizing inner character and integrity over simply maintaining appearances or following traditions for tradition's sake.

For modern believers, it serves as a reminder to focus on cultivating a sincere and loving heart, rather than merely ensuring that external behaviors and practices are beyond reproach.

It encourages reflection on personal motivations and the cultivation of virtues.

Cross-References

Matthew 15:1-20 - Jesus discusses what truly defiles a person.
Mark 7:1-23 - Mark’s account of the same incident, emphasizing what comes out of a person is what defiles them.
Matthew 23:1-39 - Jesus condemns the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy.
Isaiah 29:13 - The prophet Isaiah criticizes the people for honoring God only with their lips.

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek text of Matthew 15:12 include:

"Disciples" (μαθηταί, mathētai): Meaning followers or students of a teacher.
"Offended" (σκανδαλίζονται, skandalizontai): The verb stems from a word meaning “stumbling block” or “trap," implying that the Pharisees were caused to stumble or take offense.
"Saying" (λόγον, logon): Often translated as "word," "speech," or "matter," in this context, it refers to the particular teachings of Jesus that caused offense.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, there was a strong emphasis on ritual purity and the observation of religious practices.

The Pharisees’ emphasis on external behaviors over internal change can be compared to other religious traditions that focus on ritual over personal transformation.

For instance, in Ancient Egyptian religion, the concept of Ma'at involved the performance of rituals to maintain order, which had to be balanced with moral behavior.

Scientific Perspectives

While Matthew 15:12 does not directly intersect with scientific perspectives, the understanding of offense and its psychological impact on individuals and groups has been studied within social psychology.

The way humans process offense, social status, and in-group/out-group dynamics relates to broader questions of how beliefs and behavior are influenced by social structures and leaders.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators offer various insights on this verse:

John Calvin saw this verse as an example of the disciples’ undue reverence for human traditions, reflecting their own temptation to put man’s opinion above God’s word.
Matthew Henry considered this instance as an example of Christ’s boldness in truth-telling, unswayed by the fear of man.
William Barclay emphasized Jesus' consistent message that true religion is a matter of the heart, not just external observance.
Modern commentators might discuss the delicate balance between respecting cultural traditions while challenging those that contradict foundational spiritual principles.

Matthew 15

Matthew 15

What does Matthew 15:12 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 15:12 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?