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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 15:8 mean?

Explanation

This verse, Matthew 15:8, is a critique of hypocrisy, where Jesus is addressing the discrepancy between the actions and words of religious people who claim to honor God, but whose hearts are not truly dedicated to Him.

Jesus is quoting the Old Testament (Isaiah 29:13), indicating that the issue of lip-service versus true devotion is a recurring theme in the faith journey.

The literal meaning is straightforward: people may speak piously and reverently, but their actions and inner intentions may not align with the values they profess.

The deeper meaning goes to the authenticity of one’s faith and the consistency of one’s actions with their stated beliefs.

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Historical Context

Matthew 15:8 emerges in a confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees, a sect known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses.

The Pharisees criticized the disciples of Jesus for not following traditional handwashing rituals before eating, which were part of ceremonial purity laws.

Jesus turned the criticism back on them, accusing them of hypocrisy for adhering to human traditions over the commandments of God.

This verse is part of that rebuke, highlighting the tension between external religious observance and the internal state of the heart.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Matthew 15:8 serves as a vital teaching within Christian thought about the nature of true piety and worship.

The verse challenges believers to examine the sincerity of their relationship with God.

Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant interpretations may have slight nuances but concur on the core message that genuine worship requires a heart that is aligned with God's will, not just outward observance of rituals and traditions.

Practical Applications

The teachings of this verse can be applied in daily life by encouraging individuals to self-reflect on their spiritual practices.

It suggests that one’s faith should be a matter of the heart and not merely an external show for others.

Believers can focus on cultivating a heartfelt devotion to God, ensuring their actions reflect their inner beliefs, rather than falling into the trap of going through motions that lack true spiritual engagement.

Cross-References

Isaiah 29:13 - Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Mark 7:6 - He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
James 1:26 - If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

Language Study

The key terms in the original Greek language of the New Testament for this verse are:

"Draweth nigh" (ἐγγίζω, eggizō): signifies coming close or approaching, implying a physical nearness.
"Mouth" (στόμα, stoma): often used literally, it also metaphorically refers to speech or spoken words.
"Honoureth" (τιμάω, timaō): to esteem, to venerate, or to treat with respect.
"Lips" (χείλη, cheile): the physical part of the body, but in context, it refers to what is spoken by them.
"Heart" (καρδία, kardia): in biblical terms, often signifies the inner self, the will, intentions, or moral center of a person.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient cultures, including those surrounding Israel, lip service and the disconnect between actions and vows were common criticisms among religious reformers.

This theme of inner authenticity versus external expressions of piety resonates in other religious traditions, such as Islam's focus on niyyah (intention) or Hinduism's emphasis on bhakti (devotional worship).

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives mainly address the psychological component, such as Cognitive Dissonance Theory, which suggests a conflict arises when actions and beliefs do not align, resulting in discomfort and potential behavior change.

This verse reflects a timeless understanding of the importance of congruence between beliefs, values, and behaviors.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Matthew 15:8 often affirm that the verse is a powerful critique of hypocrisy.

Early church fathers like Augustine and John Chrysostom emphasized the need for inner transformation over outward conformity to tradition.

Contemporary scholars reiterate this message, underlining the call to genuine faithfulness and warning against the dangers of empty ritualism.

Generally, commentators agree that Jesus is urging a return to a heart-centered, authentic relationship with God that goes beyond mere words.

Matthew 15

Matthew 15

What does Matthew 15:8 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 15:8 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?