Matthew 15

King James Version

Full text for Matthew Chapter 15

1¶ Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

2Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

3But he answered and said unto them, ‹Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?›

4‹For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.›

5‹But ye say, Whosoever shall say to [his] father or [his] mother, [It is] a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;›

6‹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.›

7‹[Ye] hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,›

8‹This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me.›

9‹But in vain they do worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.›

10¶ And he called the multitude, and said unto them, ‹Hear, and understand:›

11‹Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.›

12Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

13But he answered and said, ‹Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.›

14‹Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.›

15Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.

16And Jesus said, ‹Are ye also yet without understanding?›

17‹Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?›

18‹But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.›

19‹For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:›

20‹These are [the things] which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.›

21¶ Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

22And, 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.

23But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

24But he answered and said, ‹I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.›

25Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

26But he answered and said, ‹It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast [it] to dogs.›

27And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

28Then 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.

29¶ And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.

30And 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:

31Insomuch 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.

32Then 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.›

33And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?

34And Jesus saith unto them, ‹How many loaves have ye?› And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.

35And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.

36And 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.

37And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken [meat] that was left seven baskets full.

38And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.

39And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jesus confronts the Pharisees regarding their traditions, asserting that internal defilement from the heart, not external rituals, truly pollutes a man. He then travels to Tyre and Sidon, where He commends the great faith of a Canaanite woman and heals her daughter. Returning to Galilee, Jesus performs numerous healings and miraculously feeds four thousand people with seven loaves and a few fishes.

Medium Summary

Chapter 15 opens with scribes and Pharisees challenging Jesus' disciples for not observing the tradition of washing hands before eating. Jesus rebukes them, highlighting how their traditions, such as Corban, nullify God's commandment to honour parents, and quotes Isaiah to describe their hypocrisy. He then teaches the multitude that true defilement comes not from what enters the mouth, but from the evil thoughts and actions that proceed from the heart. Following this, Jesus journeys to the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, where a Canaanite woman persistently seeks healing for her demon-possessed daughter. Despite initial resistance and a challenging analogy, her profound faith is acknowledged, and her daughter is healed. Returning to the Sea of Galilee, Jesus ascends a mountain, where He heals a great multitude of their infirmities. Moved by compassion for the hungry crowd, Jesus miraculously feeds four thousand men, besides women and children, with only seven loaves and a few small fishes, with seven baskets of fragments remaining.

Long Summary

Matthew chapter 15 begins with a confrontation between Jesus and scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem, who question why His disciples transgress the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating. Jesus sharply retorts by asking why they, in turn, transgress the commandment of God through their own tradition, specifically citing how their practice of dedicating resources as "Corban" (a gift to God) effectively negates the divine command to honour one's father and mother. He labels them hypocrites, quoting the prophet Isaiah to illustrate their worship as lip service, with hearts far from God, teaching human doctrines as divine. Subsequently, Jesus calls the multitude to Him, declaring that what enters the mouth does not defile a man, but what proceeds from the heart—such as evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, and false witness—truly defiles. He clarifies this teaching to His disciples, explaining that physical food is naturally processed, but the heart is the source of all moral impurity. Departing from Galilee, Jesus travels to the regions of Tyre and Sidon, where a Canaanite woman approaches Him, pleading for her daughter who is grievously vexed with a devil. Initially, Jesus does not respond, and His disciples urge Him to send her away. Jesus then states His mission is primarily to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and uses the analogy of not taking children's bread to cast to dogs. The woman, demonstrating remarkable humility and faith, agrees with the analogy but requests even the crumbs that fall from the master's table. Impressed by her great faith, Jesus grants her request, and her daughter is healed instantly. Returning to the Sea of Galilee, Jesus ascends a mountain, where vast multitudes bring their lame, blind, dumb, and maimed, laying them at His feet, and He heals them all, causing the people to glorify the God of Israel. Observing that the multitude has been with Him for three days and has nothing to eat, Jesus expresses compassion, unwilling to send them away fasting lest they faint. His disciples express doubt about finding enough food in the wilderness. Jesus asks about their provisions, which amount to seven loaves and a few small fishes. After giving thanks, He breaks the bread and fishes, distributing them through His disciples to the multitude. All eat and are filled, and seven baskets of fragments are collected. Four thousand men, besides women and children, are fed before Jesus sends them away and departs by ship to the coasts of Magdala.

Core Concepts

  • Tradition vs. CommandmentJesus challenges the Pharisees' adherence to human traditions, such as ceremonial handwashing or the Corban vow, over the explicit commandments of God, highlighting the hypocrisy of outward observance without inward devotion.
  • Internal DefilementJesus teaches that true defilement originates not from external factors like unwashed hands or food, but from the evil thoughts, intentions, and actions that proceed from the human heart.
  • Great FaithThe Canaanite woman exemplifies great faith through her persistent plea, humble acceptance of Jesus' initial resistance, and clever retort, which ultimately moves Jesus to heal her daughter.
  • Mission to IsraelJesus initially states His primary mission is 'unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel,' indicating a specific focus before the broader Gentile mission.
  • Compassion and Miraculous ProvisionJesus demonstrates deep compassion for the hungry multitude, leading to the miraculous feeding of four thousand people with minimal resources, showcasing His power to provide abundantly.
  • Blind LeadersJesus describes the Pharisees as 'blind leaders of the blind,' warning that following those who lack true spiritual understanding will lead to mutual downfall.
  • Healing MinistryThe chapter repeatedly highlights Jesus' extensive healing ministry, where He restores sight, speech, mobility, and wholeness to numerous individuals, leading the multitudes to glorify God.