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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 15:31 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 15:31 describes the awe and reverence felt by the crowds as they witnessed Jesus performing miracles.

In this verse, the "dumb" refers to those who were unable to speak, "the maimed" to people with damaged limbs or body parts, "the lame" to those who could not walk, and "the blind" to individuals who were unable to see.

Jesus healing these afflictions was so astonishing that it inspired the crowd to praise God.

The literal meaning is straightforward: it's a recount of miraculous healings.

However, the deeper significance touches on themes of restoration, the messianic identity of Jesus, and a display of divine compassion and power.

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Historical Context

Matthew 15:31 is part of a larger narrative found in the Gospel of Matthew, one of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament.

It is traditionally believed that the Gospel of Matthew was written by the apostle Matthew, a former tax collector and one of Jesus' twelve disciples, although modern scholarship often treats the authorship as anonymous.

This gospel was likely composed in the late first century, primarily for a Jewish-Christian audience.

The passage reflects the cultural and religious expectations of the time, including the anticipation of a Messiah who would perform signs and wonders as prophesied in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse emphasizes several key ideas:

Divine Authority: The miracles ascribed to Jesus indicate divine authority and suggest that he is the expected Messiah.
Fulfillment of Prophecy: The healing acts might be seen as a fulfillment of prophetic passages such as Isaiah 35:5-6, which spoke of the time when the eyes of the blind would be opened and the lame would leap like a deer.
Kingdom of God: The acts of healing are a demonstration of the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God, reversing the effects of sin and brokenness in the world.
Compassion: The compassion of Jesus is highlighted, showing the heart of God towards suffering humanity.

Practical Applications

Matthew 15:31 can inspire practical applications in daily life through:

Encouraging believers to trust in God's power to restore and heal.
Calling Christians to be agents of compassion and mercy in their communities, offering help and support to those in need.
Inspiring thanksgiving and praise to God for the works He has done and continues to do in the lives of people.

Cross-References

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."
Matthew 11:5: "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."
Luke 7:22: "Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words stand out:

"Dumb" (κωφούς - kophous): Literally meaning "mute" or "speechless."
"Maimed" (κυλλούς - kyllous): Refers to those with stunted or deformed limbs.
"Lame" (χωλούς - cholous): Describes people with difficulty walking or who are disabled.
"Blind" (τυφλούς - typhlous): Refers to individuals who cannot see.

Understanding these terms enriches the interpretation of the text, emphasizing the completeness of healing Jesus provided.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Miracle stories are a common feature in various ancient cultures and religions.

These stories often serve to show the power and benevolence of deities or divine figures.

In the context of Judaism, miracles performed by prophets like Elijah and Elisha were signs of God's intervention.

In comparison to other ancient myths, the miracles of Jesus are unique in their purpose, revealing his identity as the Son of God and inaugurating the Kingdom of God.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science approaches phenomena like healing within the domain of medicine and psychology.

Many of Jesus' healings in the Bible defy natural explanations and are considered miraculous.

While some argue that psychosomatic effects could account for some healing experiences, the events described in Matthew 15:31 suggest occurrences beyond current scientific understanding.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators offer various insights into Matthew 15:31:

Some emphasize the messianic significance of Jesus' miracles, associating them with Old Testament prophecies.
Others highlight the inclusivity of Jesus' healing ministry, as he healed all who came to him regardless of their conditions.
Commentators also note the response of the crowd as significant, illustrating the proper human response to God’s revelation through Jesus: glorifying God.

Matthew 15

Matthew 15

What does Matthew 15:31 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 15:31 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?