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Matthew 15

39 verses

TL;DR

Jesus confronts Jewish leaders about the misuse of tradition, teaches that what defiles a person comes from the heart, heals a Canaanite woman through faith, and feeds thousands.

Summary

In Matthew 15 Jesus is challenged by scribes and Pharisees who criticize His disciples for not following the elders’ tradition of washing hands before eating. He rebukes them for twisting God’s commandment and calls them hypocrites, citing Isaiah’s prophecy about outward worship without inward devotion. Jesus then explains that nothing entering through the mouth defiles a person, but what comes from the heart does, citing evil thoughts, murder, and adultery. He moves to Tyre and Sidon where a Canaanite woman petitions Him for her daughter; Jesus initially refuses but ultimately heals her daughter as a sign of her great faith. Returning to Galilee, Jesus heals a multitude of the sick, then performs the miracle of feeding four thousand men, women, and children with seven loaves and a few fishes, demonstrating divine provision and compassion.

Outline
  1. Jesus vs. Jewish leaders over tradition and purity
  2. Jesus teaches inner defilement and heals a Canaanite woman
  3. Miracle of feeding the multitudes
Themes
Tradition vs. God’s command, Inner purity over external ritualFaith and divine compassionDivine provision and healing
Keywords
disciplesscribesPhariseestraditioncommandmenthypocritesIsaiahmouthheartfaithmiraclefeedinghealing
People
JesusscribesPhariseesIsaiahPeterdispelled disciplesCanaanite womanher daughter
Places
JerusalemTyreSidoncoast of Tyre and SidonCanaanSea of GalileeMagdala
Things
tradition of elderswashing handscommandment of Godmouthheartfaithseven loavesfew fisheschildren’s breadcrumbs
Key Verses
  • Matthew 15:11: Jesus declares that what defiles a person comes from the mouth/heart, overturning cultural emphasis on ritual purity.
  • Matthew 15:28: Jesus commends the woman’s faith and heals her daughter, highlighting the power of faith beyond ethnic boundaries.
  • Matthew 15:34: Jesus prepares to feed the four thousand, setting the stage for the miracle of divine provision.
Questions
  • What does Jesus mean when He says the heart is what defiles a person?
  • How does the healing of the Canaanite woman challenge Jewish perceptions of faith?
  • What lessons can we learn about compassion and provision from the feeding of the four thousand?
  • In what ways does Jesus criticize the use of tradition to replace God’s commandments?
  • How might the parable of the blind leading the blind apply to contemporary religious practice?
Sentiment

neutral
The passage contains both critique and compassion, but overall presents a balanced tone of instruction and miracle.