PrevMatthew 15:32Next

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 15:32 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 15:32 outlines an event in the life of Jesus, where he expresses his compassion for the crowd that has gathered around him for three days without food. Jesus recognizes the physical needs of the crowd in addition to their spiritual needs.

This verse underscores Jesus' holistic care for people – that he attends to both their physical well-being and their spiritual teachings.

The deeper meaning suggests that Jesus is aware of and responsive to the basic needs of people, and his miracles serve not only as a demonstration of his divine power but also of his deep empathy and love for humankind.

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

The verse is set in a period when Jesus was traveling around Galilee, teaching and performing miracles.

In the surrounding passages, we find that large crowds would follow Jesus to hear his teachings and witness or receive healing.

At that time, it was not uncommon for people to travel considerable distances on foot to listen to spiritual leaders, and such gatherings could last for several days.

The historical context underscores the fact that Jesus was functioning as a rabbi or teacher and miracle worker within a Jewish society under Roman occupation.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse exemplifies Jesus' messianic role as one who not only saves from sin but also provides for the physical needs of people.

The feeding of the multitude, which this verse precedes, is a miracle that illustrates Jesus' divine authority over creation.

From the viewpoint of certain denominations such as Catholicism, this event can prefigure the Eucharist, where Christ nourishes his followers spiritually.

Protestant interpretations might emphasize the importance of compassionate ministry that meets tangible needs.

Practical Applications

The teaching of this verse can be applied in various ways in daily life.

It can inspire acts of charity and encourage individuals to be attentive to the physical needs of others, especially for those who are in committed positions of spiritual mentorship, such as pastors or community leaders.

Moreover, it implies the responsibility of communities to care for those among them who are vulnerable or in need, promoting a spirit of generosity and compassion.

Cross-References

Matthew 14:14: "And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick."
Mark 8:2-3: "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far."
John 6:5-13: The account of Jesus feeding the 5,000, which is another instance where Jesus meets the physical needs of the crowd.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word for "compassion" is "σπλαγχνίζομαι" (splagchnizomai), which conveys a deep, visceral emotion akin to being moved in one's guts or inner parts, reflecting the depth of Jesus' compassion.

The phrase "lest they faint in the way" uses the Greek word "ἐκλυθῶσιν" (eklythōsin), implying physical exhaustion or collapse. Understanding these original terms provides insight into the intensity of Jesus' concern for the crowd's wellbeing.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures and religions, leaders, including religious figures, were often expected to ensure the well-being of their followers.

Feeding stories are common in various myths, such as the Greek myth of Demeter and the miracle of the Eleusinian Mysteries where food is multiplied.

In Jewish tradition, there are stories such as the miracle of the Manna given to Israel in the desert, as recorded in Exodus 16.

These comparisons show a recurrent theme of divine or miraculous provision in various cultural settings.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the feeding of the multitudes would be considered a miracle, as it contradicts our understanding of the natural laws of conservation of mass and biology.

Those who seek to reconcile scientific understanding with biblical narratives might look for natural explanations or suggest that miracle stories have symbolic rather than literal meanings.

Commentaries

Different biblical scholars and commentators have varying interpretations of this verse.

Some focus on the compassionate nature of Jesus and the importance of meeting physical needs alongside spiritual teachings.

Others see the feeding of the multitude as a critical sign of Jesus' identity as the Messiah.

Commentaries such as those by Matthew Henry or William Barclay emphasize Jesus' role in showing God's power and mercy, as well as the model it sets for Christian service to others in need.

Matthew 15

Matthew 15

What does Matthew 15:32 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 15:32 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?