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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 15:29 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 15:29 captures a moment in the life of Jesus Christ as recorded in the New Testament.

The verse describes Jesus leaving a certain place and traveling to the Sea of Galilee.

Then, it mentions that He went up onto a mountain and sat down.

The literal meaning of the verse is straightforward: it denotes a change in Jesus' geographical location.

Deeper meanings can be interpreted as Jesus seeking solitude, possibly for prayer or contemplation, or preparing to teach a crowd, as sitting was the traditional posture of a Rabbi when teaching.

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Historical Context

This verse is set in the period of Jesus' ministry on earth, approximately in the first century CE in the region of Galilee, which is in the northern part of modern-day Israel.

The Sea of Galilee was a focal point for much of Jesus' ministry.

The region around the Sea of Galilee was predominantly Jewish, but also had a significant non-Jewish population due to the area's history and the influence of the Roman Empire.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse shows Jesus as a figure who often sought out quiet places for prayer and reflection, a practice that many Christians emulate as a part of their spiritual discipline.

Another possible insight is that in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus' movements often precede significant events or teachings.

His going up on the mountain might echo other significant biblical events that occurred on mountains, such as Moses receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai.

Practical Applications

On a practical level, this verse can inspire believers to find their own "mountains" or quiet places where they can withdraw from the noise of everyday life to reflect, pray, or prepare for the tasks ahead.

It highlights the importance of rest and solitude as part of a balanced life.

Cross-References

Matthew 14:23: "And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone."
Mark 6:46: "And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray."
Luke 6:12: "And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek for this verse are:

"Departed" (ἀναχωρέω, anachoreo): to withdraw or go away.
"Came nigh" (παραγίνομαι, paraginomai): to come near or approach.
"Sea" (θάλασσα, thalassa): often referring to the Sea of Galilee, a freshwater lake.
"Mountain" (ὄρος, oros): a mountain or hill, commonly referenced in biblical events.
"Sat down" (καθίζω, kathizo): to sit down, often used in the context of teaching.

Each word reflects a simple, narrative movement in the story but carries significant thematic and symbolic weight in biblical literature.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient religions, mountains often held special significance as places where deities were encountered or where divine revelation was received.

For instance, in Greek mythology, Mount Olympus was the home of the gods.

In the Hebrew scriptures, mountains were locations of important events, like Mount Sinai for Moses, which contributed to a cultural reverence for mountains as places of closeness to the divine.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the reference to Jesus sitting on a mountain might allow for discussions on the geography of the region.

The Sea of Galilee is surrounded by hills, and the setting could have provided a natural amphitheater, potentially aiding in addressing a large crowd.

commentaries

Various commentaries may interpret Matthew 15:29 differently:

Some may note the parallel to Moses on Mount Sinai, seeing Jesus as a new Moses providing spiritual guidance.
Others emphasize the importance of solitude and prayer in Christian life, as evidenced by Jesus' withdrawal from the crowds.
Some scholars might focus on the geographical indications, using them to explore the historical Jesus and his movement within Galilee.

Each commentary adds depth to the understanding of the verse, emphasizing different aspects of its significance in the Gospel narrative.

Matthew 15

Matthew 15

What does Matthew 15:29 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 15:29 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?