Matthew 15:1
Outline:
I. \\#Matt 1:1-3:17\\ The Presentation of the King
II. \\#4:1-7:29\\ The Person of the King
III. \\#8:1-11:1\\ The Power of the King
IV. \\#Matthew 11:2-14:13\\ Decisions Concerning the King
V. \\#Matt 14:13-16:12\\ Training the Disciples
A. \\#Matt 14:15-21\\ Training the Disciples to Serve
B. \\#Matt 14:22-33\\ Training the Disciples to Have Faith
C. \\#Matt 14:34-36\\ The Ministry Goes On-Ministry At
Gennesaret
D. \\#Matt 15:1-20\\ Training the Disciples to Be Pure
E. \\#Matt 15:21-39\\ The Ministry Goes Gentile
1. Mark’s account
2. \\#Matt 15:21-28\\ The Gentile’s Faith Is Rewarded
3. \\#Matt 15:29-39\\ The Gentile’s Needs Will Be Met
G. \\#Matt 16:1-12\\ Training the Disciples to Be Cautious
I. \\#Matt 15:1-20\\ Training the Disciples to Be Pure
A. \\#1\\ The Setting
1. "came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees which were of
Jerusalem"
a. These would appear to be Jerusalem’s religious elite.
b. Since the scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem were
coming to Jesus, it stands to reason that Jesus was
not at Jerusalem. Matthew has not given us a new
location so it is probable that Jesus was still near
the Sea of Galilee.
2. No doubt, these had come to spy on Jesus, seeking some
evidence that they might kill Him. \\#Matt 12:14\\
B. \\#2\\ The Question
1. The question was, why do your disciples eat without
washing their hands?
a. It should be noted that this is NOT a question of
curiosity. It is a question of condemnation.
b. The religious leaders were no longer curious. By
their own account, they have decided to kill Jesus
and were seeking a cause to do so. \\#Matt 12:14\\
c. While Jesus had answered their curious questions with
some measure of explanation and compassion, we will
see that He answers their condemning questions with
only rebuke.
2. "Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the
elders?"
a. The religious leaders, in asking their question,
acknowledge that the issue was not one of Scriptures
but an issue of the traditions. that is, their
teachings about the Scriptures.
b. As noted before, there is a world of difference in
what God says and what others write about what God
says.
c. These religious leaders could find no fault in Jesus
with the Scriptures so they must turn to their own
faulty interpretation of Scripture to challenge Him.
C. The Answer
1. As to the answer to their question, they do not get one.
Jesus never tells the religious leaders why the disciples
were eating without first washing.
2. Even though it is not a matter of Scripture to wash one’s
hands before eating, it is good hygiene.
3. Why did the disciples not wash? Perhaps there was no
water at hand. Perhaps they were very hungry. Perhaps
they had washed but not so thoroughly as the religious
leaders demanded. Perhaps it was of the Holy Spirit that
Jesus might give this rebuke.
D. \\#3-9\\ The Rebuke
1. \\#3-6\\ Jesus gives them an example of their disobedience
to Scripture.
a. \\#3\\ "Why do ye also transgress the commandment of
God?"
(1) Jesus answers their condemning question with a
condemning question.
(2) No doubt, this was a new experience for the
religious elite.
b. \\#4-6\\ An example
(1) \\#4\\ The Old Testament law demanded honor be
demonstrated to parents and that death be
exacted if not.
Ex 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days
may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth
thee.
Ex 21:17 And he that curseth his father, or his mother,
shall surely be put to death.
(2) \\#5-6\\ But in the written traditions, a son
was allowed to dedicate his money to God and
having done so, the leaders would not allow it
to be spent on the care of elderly parents.
(a) Jesus was not against people giving to God;
in fact, Jesus both taught and demanded
it.
(b) The conflict arose in part because two good
things were being paired against each
other. It was commanded to give to God but
it was also commanded that one honor and
care for one’s parents.
(c) Part of the solution lay in the reality
that a caring son who wanted to honor his
parents and provide for them, would not
dedicate all of his wealth to God so that
the conflict ever existed.
(d) However, part of the problem also lay in
the hearts of the wicked youth and
religious leaders, which is the reason
Jesus gave this rebuke.
i. Even though the son may have dedicated
his money to God, unless it had been
given, it was still in his possession
to use.
ii. In fact, the dedicator still used the
money, with the religious leaders’
approval, for his own needs. When he
did, he simply re-dedicated it to
God again.
iii. This kind of half-hearted dedication
was a ruse on the part of the greedy
to AVOID taking care of one’s family.
iv. The religious leaders participated in
this ploy because in the end, the
temple would receive a larger sum IF
it were not consumed in the care of
the elderly. Just like today, caring
for the aged was an expensive quest
which would diminish whatever wealth
the temple might one day receive.
(3) \\#6\\ This ploy had "made the commandment of
God of none effect."
2. \\#7-9\\ Jesus sternly rebuked the religious leaders.
a. \\#7\\ "Ye, hypocrites"-The term is used to indicate
that they were hiding their true face or intentions
behind a mask.
b. \\#8-9\\ The Jesus quoted and applied Isaiah words to
them.
Isa 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:
(1) The religious leaders had promoted man’s
philosophies above the very words of God.
(2) They had a pretense of worship but their hearts
and love was not toward God.
c. Our Lord cut them no slack. Their condemnation was
swift and stunning but well deserved. It was in
their hearts to find a cause to kill the Christ.
Had Jesus been a mere man, their actions would have
been wicked and evil; but toward the Son of God….?
E. \\#10-11\\ A Lesson to the People
1. \\#10\\ "And he called the multitude"-While Jesus did
not respect the religious leaders enough to answer their
question, He will answer it for the multitudes sake.
2. \\#11\\ Spiritual Defilement
a. Jesus was speaking of spiritual defilement not
physical. We are all familiar with food poison and we
know that, physically, what we put into our mouths
can not only defile but even kill the human body.
b. However, Jesus—and even the scribes and Pharisees
when they asked the question—were speaking of
spiritual defilement not physical.
(1) To that, Jesus answer that "that which goeth
into the mouth" does not defile a man.
(2) Rather "that which cometh out of the mouth."
c. The disciples will not understand this truth so Jesus
will explain it more in the next section.
F. \\#12-20\\ The Plain Truth to His Disciples
1. \\#12-14\\ The Disciples Are Concerned about the
Pharisees.
a. \\#12\\ "the Pharisees were offended"
(1) Indeed, the Pharisees were not accustomed to
being spoken so in this manner.
(2) But then, neither were the disciples accustomed
to hearing Jesus speak TO them in this manner.
(3) This is another evidence that Jesus’ demeanor
toward the religious leaders had changed with
their decision.
b. \\#13-14\\ Jesus answers the disciples with two
parables. One signifies the Pharisees judgment, the
other their usefulness to God’s kingdom.
(1) Concerning their judgment-They will be plucked
up like a weed.
Matt 15:13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my
heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
(2) Concerning their usefulness-They were blind
leaders, having no wisdom or insight.
Matt 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the
blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall
into the ditch.
2. \\#15-20\\ The Disciples Are Curious about the Meaning.
a. \\#15\\ "Declare unto us this parable"
(1) The disciples had not understood Jesus’ meaning
concerning spiritual defilement either.
(2) It is a sad reality but so many have participated
in religious rites and rituals all of their
lives without ever understanding why.
(3) The Talmud had taught that the one ought to wash
their hands before eating as though that non-
scriptural rite would somehow grant holiness.
Now that it was being challenged, even those who
had a longing to please God had difficulty
separating the truth from the religious myth.
b. \\#16-20\\ Jesus’ Explanation
(1) \\#16-17\\ "Are ye also yet without
understanding? Do not ye yet understand?"
Jesus’ questions make it sound as if He were
disappointed in the disciples discernment.
(2) \\#17\\ "entereth… mouth… out… the draught"
What goes in the mouth simply passes through the
body and is purged.
(3) \\#18-19\\ But what comes out of the mouth comes
from the heart, and what is in the heart can
spiritually defile the person. Jesus gave
examples of some corrupt elements within the
heart-evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,
fornications, thefts, false witness,
blasphemies.
(4) These demonstrate a truly defiled person.
II. \\#Matt 15:21-39\\ The Ministry Goes Gentile - As the time of
Jesus’ death draws near, Jesus makes a long, winding trip into
Gentile country. Matthew does not detail it so much as Mark
does.
A. Mark’s Account - Mark mentions Tyre and Sidon several times.
1. Tyre and Sidon had an interest in Jesus’ ministry.
Mr 3:8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and from
beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great
multitude, when they had heard what great things he did,
came unto him.
While Matthew does not mention those of that region
coming to Jesus, he does mention the faith of Tyre and
Sidon being greater than the faith of the Jews.
\\#Matt 11:21\\
2. Mark also gives much greater detail of Jesus’ time
outside of Israel. The account starts as follows:
Mr 7:24 And from thence he arose, and went into the
borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and
would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.
3. Mark details Jesus’ journey as He takes the "long way"
home, going through Decapolis.
Mark 7:31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and
Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst
of the coasts of Decapolis.
4. Jesus was still in that region and we being well received
by the Gentiles when He heals a deaf man
\\#Mark 7:32-37\\ and feeds the 4,000 \\#Mark 8:1-9\\.
5. Then it appears that Jesus sails to Dalmanutha.
Mark 8:10 And straightway he entered into a ship with
his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.
In the study I did on Mark,
\\See 2006Notes on "Mark 8:1"\\ In this note, I had found
a source which placed Dalmanutha on the southwest shore
of the Sea of Galilee, but I now find another source
which lists it on the east side with another name,
Magadan.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://bibleatlas.org/area/magadan.jpg&imgrefurl=http://bibleatlas.org/dalmanutha.htm&h=400&w=400&sz=70&tbnid=-j1xpupZY9YDFM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=90&prev=/search%3Fq%3DDalmanutha.%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=Dalmanutha.&docid=y7tH5BTxBAudpM&sa=X&ei=aa2ZT97YOYK69QTR-ZiFBg&ved=0CC0Q9QEwAQ&dur=249
This would be more logical since Pharisees were present
in Mark’s record \\#Mark 8:11\\, and it is not very
likely that they would stay in a Gentile region.
B. \\#Matt 15:21-28\\ The Gentile’s Faith Is Rewarded
1. \\#21-22\\ The Setting
a. \\#21\\ Location
Matt 15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the
coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
(1) \\#Matt 14:34\\ The last definite location Matthew
gave us was Gennesaret, along the side of the Sea
of Galilee. Jesus leaves that area to go to Tyre
and Sidon.
(2) This location is significant for several reasons.
(a) Tyre and Sidon are Gentile cites far outside
of the boundaries of Israel. This is the
only trip that Jesus made clearly outside of
Israel’s borders.
i. The two cites are relatively close
together and located near the
Mediterranean Sea. They were known
for their trade as being mercantile
cities.
ii. Generally, they had good relations with
Israel.
(b) \\#Matt 11:21\\ Jesus mentioned these cities
favorably, saying that if the miracles done
in Chorazin and Bethsaida had been done in
Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented.
i. One would wonder why Jesus went there.
No answer is given in the Scripture.
ii. Perhaps this was God’s way of
demonstrating His ultimate plan for
the Gentiles.
iii. The Scripture only records one miracle
being performed in that region but it
seems probably that many others were
done after word got out that Jesus was
there \\#Mark 7:24-30\\.
(c) According to Mark, Jesus’ return trip back to
Israel is a long one, taking Him to the far
side of the Sea of Galilee and then to
Jerusalem to be crucified. This trip marks
the beginning of the last days in Jesus’
ministry.
b. \\#22\\ Situation
(1) "a woman of Canaan"-This woman was of the people
that God specifically cursed due to Ham’s sin.
\\#Ge 9:22-27\\ It was Canaan’s descendents who
settled on Abraham’s land, but they were only to
care for it until God’s people were ready to
inherit it. Then, God would disown and displace
them. To insure that the Canaanite would not
threaten His people’s inheritance or
spirituality, God commanded the children of
Israel to kill them. The Canaanite is the
epitome of all cursed people. This displaced
woman now dwelt in "the same coasts."
(2) "Have mercy on me, O Lord"-She came to Jesus
desiring His favor and mercy. She needed the
Lord’s mercy for her ‘daughter was grievously
vexed with a devil."
(3) She had some understanding of who Jesus was.
(a) The fact that she came to Him at all meant
she at least believed that He was of God.
(b) \\#25\\ "Then came she and worshipped him"-It
seems that actually she believed that Jesus
was God.
(c) She called Him, "Lord," acknowledging His
authority and His wisdom.
(d) That she called Him, "Son of David," meant
she understood both Jewish history and
Jewish prophecy. By calling Him by this
title, she was also acknowledging His right
to rule and was placing herself under His
authority.
(4) So this Gentile woman who was cursed by the
Jewish God, displaced by the Jewish people, and
whose very existence was only possible because
of the Jews’ disobedience to their God, humbly
comes, acknowledging that Jesus was of that
Jewish God and that the God of the Jews was
righteous and true, begging only for help for
her demon-afflicted daughter. How would she be
received?
2. \\#23-26\\ Her Rejection-Notice, from all outward
appearances, she was rejected both by the disciples and
even Jesus Himself.
a. \\#23\\ "But he (Jesus) answered her not a word."
b. "his disciples besought him…, Send her away."
c. \\#24, 26\\ Because she kept begging for help, Jesus
spoke to her twice, but both are words of rejection!
(1) \\#24\\ "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of
the house of Israel." For that moment, that was
true; but then, why was He in Tyre and Sidon?
And why are we, Gentiles and cursed, saved today?
(2) \\#26\\ "It is not meet to take the children’s
bread and to cast it to dogs."
i. In that statement, Jesus called this woman,
and all Gentiles, dogs.
ii. This was intended to be an insult to this
woman. Jesus was no doubt speaking to this
woman in the same tone and manner that many
of the Jewish leaders would have spoken to
her. It was both insulting and demeaning.
3. \\#27\\ Her Faith and Persistence-But the woman remained
both humble and persistent.
a. "Truth"-She did not argue with Jesus’ statement of her
or her people’s worth.
b. "Lord"-She did not back away from her devotion and
loyalty to Christ, even though she must have been
confused and disappointed in the response she had
received.
c. "yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their
master’s table."-But neither did she give up her
request. She knew if Jesus were indeed God, that what
she asked for was no more than the crumbs of what He
could do for her.
4. \\#28\\ Her Reward
a. Praise from the Lord.
(1) "O woman, great is thy faith"
(2) While no explanation is given, it now becomes
apparent that this was a test of the woman’s
FAITH. Had she become angry and left, she would
have failed and her daughter would have remained
vexed.
b. Healing from the Lord.
(1) "…be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her
daughter was made whole from that very hour."
(2) Notice that Jesus did not tell her, "according to
thy faith." Her faith had already been tested
and was strong so Jesus grants her request just
as she desired.
5. Conclusions
a. Jesus always wanted to heal this woman’s daughter, but
He only granted such works to those who had a faith
that could withstand testing. While our God desires
to give good to all, only the strong of faith need
apply.
b. It is my thought that this entire trip was a means by
which Jesus was showing the Gentiles that He loved
them and had a plan for their salvation, service, and
glory; but they would have to be persistent and
faithful. At the time, it looked like God had
abandoned the Gentiles to their sin and damnation, but
He had not. He always loved them and wanted them for
Himself.
C. \\#Matt 15:29-39\\ The Gentile’s Needs Will Be Met
1. \\#29\\ The Location - Matthew says that Jesus "came nigh
unto the Sea of Galilee." Leaving Tyre and Sidon, Mark
makes it clear that Jesus had gone into Decapolis and was
on the Gentile side of the sea.
2. \\#30-34\\ The Situation
a. \\#30\\ While still in Decapolis, "great multitudes
came unto him" - These Gentile masses came to be
healed and taught.
b. \\#31\\ "they glorified the God of Israel" - These
Gentiles were moved to believe in THE ONE and
ONLY God of Israel.
c. \\#32\\ "they continue with me now three days" - These
crowds had stayed with Jesus for a prolonged time in
this mountainous place.
d. "I have compassion on the multitude" - Jesus did not
want to send them home hungry and weak.
e. \\#33\\ "Whence should we have so much bread in the
wilderness" - Like with the feeding of the 5,000,
the impossibility of the task was obvious.
f. \\#34\\ "How many loaves have ye?… Seven, and a few
little fishes." And like the feeding of the 5,000,
an inventory of what was at hand was conducted.
3. While there are similarities in the two miraculous
feedings, there are also some differences.
a. Matthew and Mark record them both occurring with
different numbers of fish, loaves, baskets, and men.
(1) \\#Matt 14:13-21, 15:32-39\\
(2) \\#Mark 6:34-44, 8:1-9\\
b. The feeding of the 5,000 was in a dessert while the
4,000 was in a mountain.
c. The feeding of the 5,000 was in Galilee (Jewish land)
while Mark makes it clear that the 4,000 were fed
while Jesus was in Decapolis (Gentile land).
d. With the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus was with the
people only one day \\#Mark 6:35\\; while for the
4,000, Jesus was with the people three days
\\#Mark 8:2\\.
e. For the feeding of the 5,000, the people were arranged
in groups \\#Mark 6:40\\. They were not when the
4,000 were fed.
4. \\#35-38\\ The Miracle
a. \\#35\\ The crowd is seated.
b. \\#36\\ The food is blessed and distributed by the
disciples.
c. \\#37\\ Everyone ate, was full, and they gathered
up seven baskets full of that which was left.
d. \\#38\\ "And they that did eat were four thousand men,
beside women and children" - And we have the
miraculous feeding of the 4,000.
5. Why are two feedings recorded? As with so many "why"
questions in the Bible, since the Bible does not say,
we cannot know for certain, but perhaps it was because…
a. Just like there was more than one man who was blind,
deaf, or lame which needed healing, so there was more
than one group of people that needed feeding. It
should not surprise us that our Lord wanted to meet
the needs of the people.
b. But perhaps these two Gentile miracles both point to
the same thoughts.
(1) God does and did care for the Gentiles. He
always had.
(2) God always had a plan for the Gentiles. His
desire was to use His people to reach out to the
Gentiles, but the Jews were unworthy and
refused; so God now uses the Gentiles to reach
out to the Jews.
(3) As the healing of the Syro-Phoenican woman’s
daughter might have been to teach the Gentiles
the need for faith and patience, so the feeding
of the 4,000 might have been to teach the
Gentiles that God is able to meet their needs
just as surely as He is able to meet the needs
of His people.
6. \\#39\\ Jesus sails to "Magdala." Magdala is a city on
the same side of Galilee as Dalmanutha \\#Mark 8:10\\.
In fact, the two cities are just a mile or so apart. It
is likely that Jesus landed at one city and then
traveled on to the next.
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