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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 15:16 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 15:16 features Jesus speaking to his disciples.

The verse follows a dialogue where the Pharisees and scribes questioned Jesus about his disciples breaking the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating.

Jesus responded with a counter-question that criticized the Pharisees for adhering to human traditions over God's commandments.

Jesus then explained to the crowd that it is not what enters the mouth which defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth, since it reveals the heart's condition.

In this verse, Jesus expresses surprise and perhaps disappointment that his disciples, who have been with him and have witnessed his teachings and miracles, still lack understanding.

The question, “Are ye also yet without understanding?” suggests that Jesus expected them to grasp the spiritual truths he taught, beyond the literal interpretations and traditions they were accustomed to.

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Historical Context

This verse comes from the Gospel of Matthew, which is thought to have been written between 80-90 AD for a predominantly Jewish-Christian audience.

The historical context of the time was one where there was a strong emphasis on the purity laws as laid out in the Torah.

Physical cleanliness, ritual washing, and dietary laws were significant aspects of Jewish religious life.

Jesus challenged those norms, proposing a new way of understanding purity that focused on one's actions and the intentions of the heart rather than ritual observance.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse highlights the distinction between external religiosity and internal spiritual purity. Jesus often criticized the religious leaders for their hypocrisy, focusing on the letter of the law while neglecting its spirit.

The verse also underscores the theme of spiritual blindness or lack of understanding, which is a recurring theme throughout the Gospels.

Jesus' role as a teacher was not just to inform but to transform, moving people from a surface-level following of religious practices to a deeper, more meaningful faith.

Practical Applications

The saying of Jesus in Matthew 15:16 urges believers to strive for deeper understanding and to not be satisfied with surface-level interpretation of religious teachings.

The verse can be applied in daily life by encouraging individuals to:

Reflect on whether their actions align with their professed beliefs.
Seek personal growth and understanding of spiritual teachings, rather than ritualistically following traditions.
Interrogate their own assumptions and biases, understanding that spiritual enlightenment is a continual process.

Cross-References

Matthew 15:11: "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man."
Mark 7:18: “And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;”
Matthew 16:9: "Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?"

Language Study

The Greek word used for "understanding" in this verse is "συνίημι" (syniēmi), which denotes mental comprehension or grasping the significance of facts or truths.

The phrase implies not just a lack of intellectual comprehension but a failure to apply the heart and mind to fully understand Jesus's teachings.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader ancient world, issues of purity were not unique to Judaism.

Many cultures had their own rituals and ideas about what made a person clean or unclean.

However, the emphasis on moral rather than ritual purity is a distinctive feature in Jesus' teachings as compared to many other ancient religions, where the focus might have been on performing the correct religious rites to achieve purity or favor with the gods.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychology might view Jesus's question as emphasizing the importance of internal processes (thoughts, emotions) over external ones (actions), resonating with current understandings of cognitive-behavioral psychology.

Additionally, scientific inquiry into dietary laws and hygiene could shed light on the physical benefits of ancient purity rituals, even though Jesus's teachings shifted the focus to the moral realm.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have provided commentary on Matthew 15:16.

Some emphasize the pedagogical nature of Jesus's rhetorical question, which may have been aimed at prompting self-reflection and deeper inquiry among the disciples.

Others suggest that the frustration Jesus exhibits is not merely with the disciples' lack of understanding but with the pervasiveness of a legalistic culture that has masked the essence of God’s laws with traditions.

Ultimately, commentators agree that this verse calls for an inward transformation and cautions against a religion that is only skin-deep.

Matthew 15

Matthew 15

What does Matthew 15:16 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 15:16 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?