BOOK 40 OF 66 · GOSPELS · KING JAMES BIBLE

Matthew 15

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Matthew 15 Overview

Jesus confronts Pharisees and scribes for elevating tradition above God’s command, teaching that defilement proceeds from the heart rather than merely from external contact. He then responds to a Canaanite woman’s persistent appeal for her daughter, heals many in the region, and feeds four thousand with seven loaves and a few fishes.

MatthewBook

15Chapter

39Verses

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Before you read Matthew 15

Coming from

Matthew 14 established the immediate context: Herod’s execution of John the Baptist is recounted, and Jesus withdraws but is followed by crowds.

In this chapter

Matthew 15 contrasts human tradition that obscures God’s word with humble faith that recognizes Jesus’ mercy and authority.

Leads into

Matthew 16 continues the account: Religious leaders demand a sign, but Jesus warns about their leaven.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Jesus’ dispute concerns traditions that allowed people to evade responsibility toward parents. He does not condemn all tradition simply because it is old; He condemns tradition that makes God’s command ineffective.

The Canaanite woman scene tests and displays persistent faith within the Gospel’s Israel-first mission setting. Jesus’ eventual commendation is explicit and the daughter is healed.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

God’s word outranks human religious tradition

Custom cannot legitimately cancel clear divine command.

Defilement is fundamentally a heart problem

Evil speech and actions come from within rather than being solved by external ritual alone.

Humble faith appeals to mercy rather than entitlement

The Canaanite woman continues to seek help despite the difficult exchange.

Jesus’ compassion continues across crowds and regions

The second feeding again joins teaching with practical provision.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Exodus 20:12

Honoring father and mother stands behind Jesus’ rebuke of traditions used to avoid family responsibility.

Isaiah 29:13

Jesus explicitly applies Isaiah’s warning about lip-honor with hearts far from God.

Romans 1:28–32

Paul likewise locates many outward evils in a corrupted inner life.

Mark 7:1–30

Mark gives a close parallel with further explanatory details about defilement and the Gentile woman.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not use the tradition controversy to reject every church practice not explicitly named in Scripture

The issue is when tradition contradicts or nullifies God’s word.

Do not interpret the Canaanite woman’s persistence as earning grace by works

She appeals to Jesus’ mercy and His power; the text commends her faith.

Do not reduce heart-defilement teaching to the idea that outward actions do not matter

Jesus lists outward sins as flowing from the heart; both source and conduct matter.

Read Matthew 15 watching for…

How tradition is placed against commandment.

The Isaiah quotation about lips and heart.

Jesus’ explanation of true defilement.

The Canaanite woman’s titles and appeals.

Jesus’ commendation of her faith.

Parallels and differences between the two feeding miracles.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-20Jesus confronts traditions that nullify God’s commandment and explains what truly defiles a person 21-28A woman of Canaan pleads in faith, and Jesus heals her daughter 29-31Jesus heals many beside the sea of Galilee 32-39Jesus feeds four thousand and departs

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.

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Matthew 15:22

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