1 Then G5119 came G4334 to Jesus G2424 scribes G1122 and G2532 Pharisees, G5330 which were of G575 Jerusalem, G2414 saying, G3004
Woe G3759 unto you, G5213 scribes G1122 and G2532 Pharisees, G5330 hypocrites! G5273 for G3754 ye compass G4013 sea G2281 and G2532 land G3584 to make G4160 one G1520 proselyte, G4339 and G2532 when G3752 he is made, G1096 ye make G4160 him G846 twofold more G1362 the child G5207 of hell G1067 than yourselves. G5216 Woe G3759 unto you, G5213 ye blind G5185 guides, G3595 which G3588 say, G3004 Whosoever G3739 G302 shall swear G3660 by G1722 the temple, G3485 it is G2076 nothing; G3762 but G1161 whosoever G3739 G302 shall swear G3660 by G1722 the gold G5557 of the temple, G3485 he is a debtor! G3784 Ye fools G3474 and G2532 blind: G5185 for G1063 whether G5101 is G2076 greater, G3187 the gold, G5557 or G2228 the temple G3485 that sanctifieth G37 the gold? G5557 And, G2532 Whosoever G3739 G1437 shall swear G3660 by G1722 the altar, G2379 it is G2076 nothing; G3762 but G1161 whosoever G3739 G302 sweareth G3660 by G1722 the gift G1435 that is upon G1883 it, G846 he is guilty. G3784 Ye fools G3474 and G2532 blind: G5185 for G1063 whether G5101 is greater, G3187 the gift, G1435 or G2228 the altar G2379 that sanctifieth G37 the gift? G1435 Whoso therefore G3767 shall swear G3660 by G1722 the altar, G2379 sweareth G3660 by G1722 it, G846 and G2532 by G1722 all things G3956 thereon. G1883 G846 And G2532 whoso shall swear G3660 by G1722 the temple, G3485 sweareth G3660 by G1722 it, G846 and G2532 by G1722 him that dwelleth G2730 therein. G846 And G2532 he that shall swear G3660 by G1722 heaven, G3772 sweareth G3660 by G1722 the throne G2362 of God, G2316 and G2532 by G1722 him that sitteth G2521 thereon. G1883 G846 Woe G3759 unto you, G5213 scribes G1122 and G2532 Pharisees, G5330 hypocrites! G5273 for G3754 ye pay tithe G586 of mint G2238 and G2532 anise G432 and G2532 cummin, G2951 and G2532 have omitted G863 the weightier G926 matters of the law, G3551 judgment, G2920 G2532 mercy, G1656 and G2532 faith: G4102 these G5023 ought ye G1163 to have done, G4160 and not G3361 to leave G863 the other G2548 undone. G863 Ye blind G5185 guides, G3595 which strain at G1368 a gnat, G2971 and G1161 swallow G2666 a camel. G2574 Woe G3759 unto you, G5213 scribes G1122 and G2532 Pharisees, G5330 hypocrites! G5273 for G3754 ye make clean G2511 the outside G1855 of the cup G4221 and G2532 of the platter, G3953 but G1161 within G2081 they are full G1073 of G1537 extortion G724 and G2532 excess. G192 Thou blind G5185 Pharisee, G5330 cleanse G2511 first G4412 that which is within G1787 the cup G4221 and G2532 platter, G3953 that G2443 the outside G1622 of them G846 may be G1096 clean G2513 also. G2532 Woe G3759 unto you, G5213 scribes G1122 and G2532 Pharisees, G5330 hypocrites! G5273 for G3754 ye are like G3945 unto whited G2867 sepulchres, G5028 which G3748 indeed G3303 appear G5316 beautiful G5611 outward, G1855 but G1161 are within G2081 full G1073 of dead G3498 men's bones, G3747 and G2532 of all G3956 uncleanness. G167 Even so G3779 ye G5210 also G2532 G3303 outwardly G1855 appear G5316 righteous G1342 unto men, G444 but G1161 within G2081 ye are G2075 full G3324 of hypocrisy G5272 and G2532 iniquity. G458
Then G2532 came together G4863 unto G4314 him G846 the Pharisees, G5330 and G2532 certain G5100 of the scribes, G1122 which came G2064 from G575 Jerusalem. G2414 And G2532 when they saw G1492 some G5100 of his G846 disciples G3101 eat G2068 bread G740 with defiled, G2839 that is to say, G5123 with unwashen, G449 hands, G5495 they found fault. G3201 For G1063 the Pharisees, G5330 and G2532 all G3956 the Jews, G2453 except G3362 they wash G3538 their hands G5495 oft, G4435 eat G2068 not, G3756 holding G2902 the tradition G3862 of the elders. G4245 And G2532 when they come from G575 the market, G58 except G3362 they wash, G907 they eat G2068 not. G3756 And G2532 many G4183 other things G243 there be, G2076 which G3739 they have received G3880 to hold, G2902 as the washing G909 of cups, G4221 and G2532 pots, G3582 G2532 brasen vessels, G5473 and G2532 of tables. G2825 Then G1899 the Pharisees G5330 and G2532 scribes G1122 asked G1905 him, G846 Why G1302 walk G4043 not G3756 thy G4675 disciples G3101 according G2596 to the tradition G3862 of the elders, G4245 but G235 eat G2068 bread G740 with unwashen G449 hands? G5495 He answered G611 and G1161 said G2036 unto them, G846 G3754 Well G2573 hath Esaias G2268 prophesied G4395 of G4012 you G5216 hypocrites, G5273 as G5613 it is written, G1125 This G3778 people G2992 honoureth G5091 me G3165 with their lips, G5491 but G1161 their G846 heart G2588 is G568 far G4206 from G575 me. G1700 Howbeit G1161 in vain G3155 do they worship G4576 me, G3165 teaching G1321 for doctrines G1319 the commandments G1778 of men. G444 For G1063 laying aside G863 the commandment G1785 of God, G2316 ye hold G2902 the tradition G3862 of men, G444 as the washing G909 of pots G3582 and G2532 cups: G4221 and G2532 many G4183 other G243 such G5108 like things G3946 ye do. G4160 And G2532 he said G3004 unto them, G846 Full well G2573 ye reject G114 the commandment G1785 of God, G2316 that G2443 ye may keep G5083 your own G5216 tradition. G3862 For G1063 Moses G3475 said, G2036 Honour G5091 thy G4675 father G3962 and G2532 thy G4675 mother; G3384 and, G2532 Whoso curseth G2551 father G3962 or G2228 mother, G3384 let him die G5053 the death: G2288 But G1161 ye G5210 say, G3004 If G1437 a man G444 shall say G2036 to his father G3962 or G2228 mother, G3384 It is Corban, G2878 that is to say, G3603 a gift, G1435 by G1537 whatsoever G3739 G1437 thou mightest be profited by G5623 me; G1700 he shall be free. And G2532 ye suffer G863 him G846 no more G3765 to do G4160 ought G3762 for his G846 father G3962 or G2228 his G846 mother; G3384 Making G208 the word G3056 of God G2316 of none effect G208 through your G5216 tradition, G3862 which G3739 ye have delivered: G3860 and G2532 many G4183 such G5108 like things G3946 do ye. G4160 And G2532 when he had called G4341 all G3956 the people G3793 unto him, he said G3004 unto them, G846 Hearken G191 unto me G3450 every one G3956 of you, and G2532 understand: G4920 There is G2076 nothing G3762 from without G1855 a man, G444 that G3739 entering G1531 into G1519 him G846 can G1410 defile G2840 him: G846 but G235 the things which come G1607 out of G575 him, G846 those G1565 are they G2076 that defile G2840 the man. G444 If any man G1536 have G2192 ears G3775 to hear, G191 let him hear. G191 And G2532 when G3753 he was entered G1525 into G1519 the house G3624 from G575 the people, G3793 his G846 disciples G3101 asked G1905 him G846 concerning G4012 the parable. G3850 And G2532 he saith G3004 unto them, G846 Are G2075 ye G5210 so G3779 without understanding G801 also? G2532 Do ye G3539 not G3756 perceive, G3539 that G3754 whatsoever thing G3956 from without G1855 entereth G1531 into G1519 the man, G444 it cannot G3756 G1410 defile G2840 him; G846 Because G3754 it entereth G1531 not G3756 into G1519 his G846 heart, G2588 but G235 into G1519 the belly, G2836 and G2532 goeth out G1607 into G1519 the draught, G856 purging G2511 all G3956 meats? G1033 And G1161 he said, G3004 G3754 That which cometh G1607 out of G1537 the man, G444 that G1565 defileth G2840 the man. G444 For G1063 from within, G2081 out of G1537 the heart G2588 of men, G444 proceed G1607 evil G2556 thoughts, G1261 adulteries, G3430 fornications, G4202 murders, G5408 Thefts, G2829 covetousness, G4124 wickedness, G4189 deceit, G1388 lasciviousness, G766 an evil G4190 eye, G3788 blasphemy, G988 pride, G5243 foolishness: G877 All G3956 these G5023 evil things G4190 come G1607 from within, G2081 and G2532 defile G2840 the man. G444
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Matthew 15
Commentary on Matthew 15 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 15
Mt 15:1-20. Discourse on Ceremonial Pollution. ( = Mr 7:1, 23).
The time of this section was after that Passover which was nigh at hand when our Lord fed the five thousand (Joh 6:4)—the third Passover, as we take it, since His public ministry began, but which He did not keep at Jerusalem for the reason mentioned in Joh 7:1.
1. Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem—or "from Jerusalem." Mark (Mr 7:1) says they "came from" it: a deputation probably sent from the capital expressly to watch Him. As He had not come to them at the last Passover, which they had reckoned on, they now come to Him. "And," says Mark (Mr 7:2, 3), "when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen hands"—hands not ceremonially cleansed by washing—"they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft"—literally, "in" or "with the fist"; that is, probably washing the one hand by the use of the other—though some understand it, with our version, in the sense of "diligently," "sedulously"—"eat not, holding the tradition of the elders"; acting religiously according to the custom handed down to them. "And when they come from the market" (Mr 7:4)—"And after market": after any common business, or attending a court of justice, where the Jews, as Webster and Wilkinson remark, after their subjection to the Romans, were especially exposed to intercourse and contact with heathens—"except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups and pots, brazen vessels and tables"—rather, "couches," such as were used at meals, which probably were merely sprinkled for ceremonial purposes. "Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him,"
saying—as follows:
2. Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
3. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?—The charge is retorted with startling power: "The tradition they transgress is but man's, and is itself the occasion of heavy transgression, undermining the authority of God's law."
4. For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother—(De 5:16).
and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death—(Ex 21:17).
5. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift—or simply, "A gift!" In Mark (Mr 7:11), it is, "Corban!" that is, "An oblation!" meaning, any unbloody offering or gift dedicated to sacred uses.
by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
6. And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free—that is, It is true, father—mother—that by giving to thee this, which I now present, thou mightest be profited by me; but I have gifted it to pious uses, and therefore, at whatever cost to thee, I am not now at liberty to alienate any portion of it. "And," it is added in Mark (Mr 7:12), "ye suffer him no more to do aught for his father or his mother." To dedicate property to God is indeed lawful and laudable, but not at the expense of filial duty.
Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect—cancelled or nullified it "by your tradition."
7. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying—(Isa 29:13).
8. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, &c.—By putting the commandments of men on a level with the divine requirements, their whole worship was rendered vain—a principle of deep moment in the service of God. "For," it is added in Mr 7:8, "laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups; and many other such like things ye do." The drivelling nature of their multitudinous observances is here pointedly exposed, in contrast with the manly observance of "the commandment of God"; and when our Lord says, "Many other such like things ye do," it is implied that He had but given a specimen of the hideous treatment which the divine law received, and the grasping disposition which, under the mask of piety, was manifested by the ecclesiastics of that day.
10. And he called the multitude, and said unto them—The foregoing dialogue, though in the people's hearing, was between Jesus and the pharisaic cavillers, whose object was to disparage Him with the people. But Jesus, having put them down, turns to the multitude, who at this time were prepared to drink in everything He said, and with admirable plainness, strength, and brevity, lays down the great principle of real pollution, by which a world of bondage and uneasiness of conscience would be dissipated in a moment, and the sense of sin be reserved for deviations from the holy and eternal law of God.
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—This is expressed even more emphatically in Mark (Mr 7:15, 16), and it is there added, "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear." As in Mt 13:9, this so oft-repeated saying seems designed to call attention to the fundamental and universal character of the truth it refers to.
12. Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?—They had given vent to their irritation, and perhaps threats, not to our Lord Himself, from whom they seem to have slunk away, but to some of the disciples, who report it to their Master.
13. But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up—They are offended, are they? Heed it not: their corrupt teaching is already doomed: the garden of the Lord upon earth, too long cumbered with their presence, shall yet be purged of them and their accursed system: yea, and whatsoever is not of the planting of My heavenly Father, the great Husbandman (Joh 15:1), shall share the same fate.
14. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch—Striking expression of the ruinous effects of erroneous teaching!
15. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable—"when He was entered into the house from the people," says Mark (Mr 7:17).
16. And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?—Slowness of spiritual apprehension in His genuine disciples grieves the Saviour: from others He expects no better (Mt 13:11).
17, 18. Do not ye yet understand that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth, &c.—Familiar though these sayings have now become, what freedom from bondage to outward things do they proclaim, on the one hand; and on the other, how searching is the truth which they express—that nothing which enters from without can really defile us; and that only the evil that is in the heart, that is allowed to stir there, to rise up in thought and affection, and to flow forth in voluntary action, really defiles a man!
19. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts—"evil reasonings"; referring here more immediately to those corrupt reasonings which had stealthily introduced and gradually reared up that hideous fabric of tradition which at length practically nullified the unchangeable principles of the moral law. But the statement is far broader than this; namely that the first shape which the evil that is in the heart takes, when it begins actively to stir, is that of "considerations" or "reasonings" on certain suggested actions.
murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies—detractions, whether directed against God or man; here the reference seems to be to the latter. Mark (Mr 7:22) adds, "covetousnesses"—or desires after more; "wickednesses"—here meaning, perhaps, malignities of various forms; "deceit, lasciviousness"—meaning, excess or enormity of any kind, though by later writers restricted to lewdness; "an evil eye"—meaning, all looks or glances of envy, jealousy, or ill will towards a neighbor; "pride, foolishness"—in the Old Testament sense of "folly"; that is, criminal senselessness, the folly of the heart. How appalling is this black catalogue!
20. These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man—Thus does our Lord sum up this whole searching discourse.
Mt 15:21-28. The Woman of Canaan and Her Daughter.
For the exposition, see on Mr 7:24-30.
23. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us—(Also see on Mr 7:26.)
24. But he answered and said, I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel—(Also see on Mr 7:26.)
25. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me—(Also see on Mr 7:26.)
Mt 15:29-39. Miracles of Healing—Four Thousand Miraculously Fed.
For the exposition, see on Mr 7:31; Mr 8:10.