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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 15:36 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 15:36 describes an event where Jesus performs a miracle by feeding a large crowd with a meager supply of food.

The verse captures the moment when Jesus takes seven loaves of bread and some fish, gives thanks to God, breaks the food, and distributes it through his disciples to the multitude of people.

This verse conveys both the literal event of a communal meal being provided miraculously and the deeper symbolic meanings that can be drawn from Jesus' actions, such as the demonstration of divine provision, the importance of gratitude, and the idea of spiritual nourishment.

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Historical Context

At the time this verse was written, Jesus was traveling and teaching in regions around Galilee and had attracted large crowds.

During that period, it was common for large groups of people to travel considerable distances to hear a teacher or prophet.

The feeding of the multitude, as described in Matthew 15:36, happened in a remote place where food was not easily accessible.

The cultural context included Jewish traditions, where breaking bread and sharing meals were central.

Additionally, this miracle resembles Elisha's miracle of feeding a hundred men with twenty loaves in the Old Testament (2 Kings 4:42-44), an event familiar to the Jewish audience.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, the feeding of the multitude holds multiple layers of significance.

Firstly, it underscores Jesus' identity as the Messiah who has divine authority to create abundance from scarcity.

Secondly, it demonstrates Jesus' compassion for physical needs and foreshadows the Last Supper, linking the act of breaking bread to the institution of the Eucharist in Christian tradition.

Among different viewpoints, Protestant interpretations may focus on the symbolism of Jesus as the "Bread of Life" that satisfies spiritual hunger, while Catholic perspectives may additionally emphasize the Eucharist and the reality of Christ's presence in the sacrament.

Practical Applications

The practical implications of Matthew 15:36 encourage individuals to trust in divine provision in times of need. It also teaches the value of gratitude, as Jesus gave thanks before performing the miracle.

Additionally, the passage can inspire acts of charity and sharing resources within communities, as seen in the disciples' distribution of the food. It serves as a reminder for modern believers to be instruments of God's blessings to others, especially to those who are in need.

Cross-References

Matthew 14:19 - "And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude."
Mark 8:6 - "And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people."
John 6:11 - "And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of this verse contain significant meanings:

"ευχαριστεω" (eucharisteo): This word is the root of what is translated as "gave thanks," implying gratitude.

It is the same root from which the term "Eucharist" is derived in Christian tradition.

"εκλασεν" (eklasen): Translated as "brake," this verb details the action of breaking the bread, a customary practice before sharing a meal in Jewish culture.

The meanings of these words suggest a ritualistic connotation for Jesus' actions, infused with gratitude and the sanctity of sharing a meal.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The miracle of multiplying loaves has parallels in various ancient myths and religious narratives.

In Greek mythology, the cornucopia or "horn of plenty" is a symbol of abundance and nourishment.

There are also accounts in various cultures of deities providing food from scarce resources.

In the Jewish tradition, the manna from heaven that sustained the Israelites in the desert (Exodus 16) would be a direct cultural and religious antecedent to this miracle of Jesus.

Scientific Perspectives

The feeding of the multitude falls under the category of miracles - events that are not explained by natural or scientific laws.

While modern science would question the literal interpretation of such an event due to its supernatural nature, some might explore the psychological or sociological aspects of communal sharing as a factor that could multiply the perceived available resources.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians offer different perspectives on this verse:

Classic commentaries like Matthew Henry's often emphasize God's providence and the demonstration of Jesus' divine power and compassion.
Modern scholars might analyze the socio-political significance of the event, viewing it as a form of subversive hospitality that challenged the social norms of the time, where Jesus' egalitarian distribution of food contrasts with the hierarchical food distribution practices of the Roman Empire.
Others may reflect upon the symbolic function of the event, seeing it as a sign pointing to Jesus as the provider of spiritual sustenance and relating it to the broader Christian understanding of Communion.

Matthew 15

Matthew 15

What does Matthew 15:36 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 15:36 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?