Matthew 15
Differences Between Traditions of Men and Commandments of God (15:1–14)
1 Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” 3 And he answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ [Ex. 20:12], and ‘he who speaks evil of father or mother is to be put to death’ [Ex. 21:17]. 5 But you accept whoever says to his father or mother, ‘Whatsoever you would have profited from me has already been consecrated’; the problem remains that 6 he still does not honor his father or his mother. By doing this, you have violated the word of God and all just for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites. Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: 8 ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me. 9 But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men’” [Isa. 29:13]. 10 After Jesus called the crowd to him, he said to them, “Hear and understand. 11 It is not what enters the mouth that defiles a person, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the person.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?” 13 But he answered and said, “Every plant which my heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted. 14 Let them go away; they are blind guides leading the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
Unclean Hands and a Defiled Heart (15:15–20)
15 Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 Jesus said, “Are you still lacking in understanding also? 17 Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is expelled into the toilet? 18 But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, cases of adultery, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, slanders. 20 These are the things which defile the person; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the person.”
Jesus Casts a Devil from a Daughter of a Faithful Canaanite Mother (15:21–28)
21 Jesus went away from there and withdrew into the district of Tyre and Sidon, 22 where a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is badly possessed of a demon.” 23 He did not answer her a word, and his disciples came and implored him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.” 24 He answered and said, “I was sent even unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 However, she came and began to bow down before him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26 He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs,” 27 but she replied, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from the table of their masters.” 28 Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your understanding is great; it shall be done for you as you wish,” and her daughter was healed at once.
Jesus Heals Many Afflictions (15:29–31)
29 Departing from there, Jesus went along by the Sea of Galilee, and having gone up on the mountain, he was sitting there. 30 And large crowds came to him, bringing with them people who were lame, crippled, blind, mute, and many others, and they laid them down at his feet; and he healed them. 31 So the crowd marveled as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.
Jesus Feeds Four Thousand (15:32–39)
32 And Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with me now three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.” 33 The disciples said to him, “Where would we get so many loaves in this desolate place to satisfy such a large crowd?” 34 Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven, and a few small fish.” 35 So Jesus directed the people to sit down on the ground. 36 He took the seven loaves and the fish; and giving thanks, he broke them and started giving them to the disciples. And the disciples gave them to the people. 37 Everybody ate and was satisfied. And they picked up what was left of the broken pieces—seven large baskets full. 38 Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 Sending away the crowds, Jesus got into the boat and came to the region of Magadan.
