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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 15:30 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 15:30 depicts a scene where great multitudes of people sought out Jesus Christ, bringing along those afflicted with various disabilities and ailments.

These included the lame (those unable to walk), the blind, the dumb (those unable to speak), the maimed (those with missing limbs or severe physical injuries), and many others with diverse conditions.

The crowd placed the afflicted individuals at Jesus' feet, demonstrating their faith in his ability to heal and their recognition of his authority.

Jesus' response was to heal them, an act that showcases his compassion and power to restore those who are broken, both physically and spiritually.

This verse underscores not just the miraculous healing power of Jesus, but also symbolizes the restoration of wholeness and spiritual well-being that He brings to humanity.

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Matthew is one of the four Canonical Gospels in the New Testament that outlines the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 15:30 is a part of the narrative where Jesus retreats to the region of Tyre and Sidon after contentious encounters with Pharisees and teachers of the law.

It is important to note that during this time, there was great anticipation among the Jewish people for a Messiah who would deliver them from Roman occupation and reestablish the kingdom of Israel.

However, Jesus' ministry often subverted these expectations, focusing on the kingdom of God and a message of repentance and spiritual healing. Healing miracles served as signposts of the Messiah's identity and the inbreaking of God's kingdom into the world.

Theological Insights

Within Christian theology, miracles are viewed in various ways.

Many see such events as literal historical occurrences that demonstrate Jesus' divine nature and authority over creation. Others prefer to interpret miracles symbolically, representing Jesus' ability to bring spiritual healing and transformation.

From a theological standpoint, the fact that people of all ailments are brought to Jesus indicates the universal scope of His mission.

The healing acts also affirm Jesus' Messiahship, as prophesied in the Old Testament, where the coming of the Messiah would be accompanied by signs of healing and restoration.

Practical Applications

Practically speaking, Matthew 15:30 can inspire several applications in daily life:

Compassion: The verse encourages individuals to show unconditional compassion towards the suffering, as Jesus did, without discrimination based on their condition.
Faith and Action: Just as the multitudes brought the sick to Jesus, believers today are called to act upon their faith, bringing their needs and the needs of others before God in prayer, trusting in His power to heal and restore.
Community Support: The passage also highlights the importance of community support in addressing the needs of the vulnerable and assisting them in seeking help.

Cross-References

Matthew 4:23-24: "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people."
Matthew 11:4-5: "Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them."
Isaiah 35:5-6: "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert."

Language Study

In the original Greek text of Matthew 15:30, several key words are worth examining:

Lame (χωλός, cholos): Originally meaning "lame" or "crippled," often used to describe someone who has difficulty walking or cannot walk at all.
Blind (τυφλός, typhlos): Refers to a person who is unable to see, both literally blind or figuratively lacking understanding.
Dumb (κωφός, kophos): Can be used to describe someone who is unable to speak or someone who is deaf.
Maimed (κυλλός, kyllos): Refers to a person missing a limb or with a disfigured limb.
Healed (θεραπεύω, therapeuo): To heal, cure, restore to health; also has connotations of serving and taking care of.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient cultures, physical and spiritual well-being were often closely linked.

Many ancient myths involve gods or heroes with the power to heal as a sign of their divine favor or supernatural ability.

Within the Jewish tradition, the healing miracles of Jesus resonated with stories from the Old Testament where prophets like Elijah and Elisha performed healing acts, illustrating God's concern for human suffering and His power to restore life.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, accounts of miraculous healing may be difficult to substantiate, as they challenge natural laws and empirical evidence.

However, there are studies on the placebo effect and the impact of faith and belief on physical well-being.

While science typically does not affirm supernatural causes, the interactions between mental, emotional, and physical health are increasingly recognized in medical fields, suggesting a complex interplay that may resonate in part with the holistic healing narratives found in the Gospels.

Commentaries

Various experts and Bible commentators offer different insights on Matthew 15:30:

Traditional Commentary: Many traditional commentaries uphold this verse as a historical record of Jesus’ miraculous powers and a confirmation of His divine mission.
Critical Scholarship: Critical scholars may analyze the text's authenticity, historical reliability, and the intentions of the author.

Some suggest that miracle stories were a common literary element used to convey moral and theological themes in ancient biographies. 3. Social-Scientific Commentary: Commentators from a social-scientific perspective might examine how communal expectations of healing and conceptions of illness in the ancient world shaped the Gospel narratives and their reception by early Christian communities.

Matthew 15

Matthew 15

What does Matthew 15:30 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 15:30 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?