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Matthew 15:13
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11 aNot what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”  
12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
13 But He answered and said, a“Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.  
14 Let them alone. aThey are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”  
15 aThen Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”  
16 So Jesus said, a“Are you also still without understanding?  
17 Do you not yet understand that awhatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?  
18 But athose things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.  
19 aFor out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  
20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

A Gentile Shows Her Faith

21 aThen Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  
22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, aSon of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”  
23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”
24 But He answered and said, a“I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”  
25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”
26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little adogs.”  
27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, agreat is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.  

Jesus Heals Great Multitudes

29 aJesus departed from there, bskirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there.  
30 aThen great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute,1 maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ bfeet, and He healed them.  
31 So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the1 maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they aglorified the God of Israel.  

Feeding the Four Thousand

32 aNow Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”  
33 aThen His disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?”  
34 Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.”
35 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
36 And aHe took the seven loaves and the fish and bgave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude.  
37 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left.
38 Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.
39 aAnd He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of1 Magdala. 
Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
<< Matthew 15:12   Matthew 15:14 >>


Matthew 15:10-14

See also Mark 7:15-17.

And he called the multitude - In opposition to the doctrines of the Pharisees, the Saviour took occasion to show them that the great source of pollution was the heart. They supposed that external things chiefly defiled a man. On this all their doctrines about purification were founded. This opinion of the Jews it was of great importance to correct. The Saviour took occasion, therefore, to direct the people to the true source of defilement - their own hearts. He particularly directed them to it as of importance - "Hear and understand."

Matthew 15:11

Not that which goeth into the mouth ... - The disciples were charged with being sinners for transgressing the tradition of the elders in eating with unwashed hands.

Christ replies that what they should eat could not render them sinners. The man, the moral agent, the soul, could not be polluted by anything that was eaten. What proceeds from the man himself, from his heart, would defile him.

Defileth - Pollutes, corrupts, or renders sinful.

Matthew 15:12

The Pharisees were offended - They were so zealous of their traditions that they could not endure that their absurdities should be exposed.

Matthew 15:13

Every plant ... - Religious doctrine is not inaptly compared to a plant. See I Corinthians 3:6-8. It is planted in the mind for the purpose of producing fruit in the life, or right conduct. Jesus here says that all those doctrines of which his Father was not the author must be rooted up or corrected. The false doctrines of the Pharisees, therefore, must be attacked, and it was no wonder if they were indignant. It could not be helped. It was his duty to attack them. He was not surprised that they were enraged; but, notwithstanding their opposition, their doctrine should be destroyed.

Matthew 15:14

Let them alone - That is, do not be troubled at their rage.

Be not anxious about it. This result is to be expected. They are greatly attached to their traditions, and you are not to wonder that they are indignant. They lead, also, the blind. They have a vast influence over the multitude, and it is to be expected that they will be enraged at any doctrines that go to lessen their authority or influence. By commanding them "to let them alone," Christ does not mean that they were to be suffered to remain in error without any attempt to refute or correct them, for this he was doing then; but he meant to charge his disciples not to mind them or to regard their opposition - it was to be expected.

If the blind lead the blind ... - This was a plain proposition. A blind man, attempting to conduct blind men, would fall into every ditch that was in the way. So with religious teachers. If these Pharisees, themselves ignorant and blind, should be suffered to lead the ignorant multitude, both would be destroyed. This was another reason for confuting their errors, or for rooting up the plants which God had not planted. He wished, by doing it, to save the deluded multitude.

God often suffers one man to lead many to ruin. A rich and profligate man, an infidel, a man of learning, a politician, or a teacher, is allowed to sweep multitudes to ruin. This is not unjust, for those who are led are not compelled to follow such people. They are free in choosing such leaders, and they are answerable for being led to ruin.




Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Matthew 15:13:

Isaiah 61:3
Zephaniah 2:4
Matthew 15:10-14
Matthew 15:32-39

 

<< Matthew 15:12   Matthew 15:14 >>

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