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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 15:34 mean?

Explanation

The passage in question from the Gospel of Matthew captures a moment shortly before the miracle known as the Feeding of the Four Thousand.

In this verse, Jesus inquires about the resources available to feed a large crowd that has followed him.

The disciples respond that they have seven loaves of bread and a few small fishes.

The literal interpretation of this verse is straightforward: Jesus is taking stock of the food at hand before performing a miracle of multiplication.

However, the deeper meaning suggests themes of divine providence, the abundance that stems from faith in Jesus, and the symbolic representation of Jesus as the one who fulfills not only spiritual but also physical needs.

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Historical Context

This verse is set in a context where Jesus has been teaching a great multitude for three days.

The crowd is in a remote place, and concern arises about how they will be able to eat.

In the time of Jesus, food scarcity was a common concern, and the ability to feed a large group was a significant challenge.

The miraculous feeding stories also serve to draw parallels between Jesus and Moses, as well as other prophets who provided for the people with God's power.

Feeding miracles were also signs of the messianic age, as foretold by the prophets.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse can be seen from various viewpoints:

Providence of God: The verse is an example of the care and provision of God.

Jesus is depicted as the Good Shepherd, caring for His flock's needs.

Eucharistic Imagery: Some Christian traditions see a foreshadowing of the Eucharist or Holy Communion, where believers partake in the bread and wine, symbols of Jesus's body and blood.
Faith and Obedience: Others may interpret this event as an act of faith and obedience by the disciples, who, despite their doubts, present what little they have to Jesus, trusting in His divine power.

Practical Applications

The practical applications from this verse are as follows:

Trust in Divine Provision: Individuals are encouraged to trust in God's provision, even when resources seem scant.
Sharing with Others: The verse exemplifies the importance of sharing what one has, no matter how little.
Role of Community in Problem-Solving: It also highlights the role community and collective action play in addressing challenges.

Cross-References

Matthew 14:17-21: "And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes."
Mark 8:5-9: "And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven."
John 6:9-13: "There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?"

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words to analyze include:

"loaves" (ἄρτους, artous): Not just any bread, but a specific kind of loaf commonly used at the time.
"little fishes" (ἰχθύδια, ichthydia): This term emphasizes the small size of the fish, highlighting the seeming insignificance of the resources.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This narrative may echo elements found in other ancient myths where gods or heroes provide food miraculously, such as the story of the Cornucopia in Greek mythology.

In religious texts outside Christianity, miraculous provisions are also present, such as the Jewish tale of Manna from heaven or certain Hindu stories where deities provide for their followers.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the multiplication of food defies the law of conservation of mass, as it portrays an increase in matter from nothing observable. Science, based purely on empirical evidence, cannot support such events.

However, some argue that miracles are meant to be exceptions to natural laws, testifying to the divine nature of the miraculous act.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and theologians provide commentary on this verse:

Conservative: They typically emphasize the historical truth of the miracle and the authority and divinity of Jesus reflected in His control over nature.
Liberal: Such commentators may understand the event symbolically or as a moral teaching about sharing and generosity.
Literary: Might focus on how the structure and repetition of feeding stories enhance the narrative and underscore important theological points.

Matthew 15

Matthew 15

What does Matthew 15:34 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 15:34 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?