Let’s get started, Matthew 15 and it reads.
Matthew 15
Mat.15:1] Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
Here we go again. Remember these scribes and Pharisees are Kenites. He had just talked with them in an earlier chapter.
Mat.15:2] Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
Transgress the traditions of elders, not law, is what’s said here. Let me remind you of Jeremiah. And Chapter 17:5 reads.
Jer.17:5] Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
[6] For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
[7] Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
So always trust in the Lord and never in man. Man will deceive you whenever he thinks he has a chance. Back to Matthew and it reads.
Mat.15:3] But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
By your traditions you transgress the law.
Mat.15:4] For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
[5] But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
[6] 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.
In Exodus 20:12 It says to Honor your father and mother. That would be the fifth commandment. What Jesus is saying here is that they would tell their congregation IF you give it to the church instead of feeding your parents, we’ll call it a gift that way it’s okay. But they do lie, for this is called Corbyn meaning, filthy lucre. They do it for the money.
Mat.15:7] Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
[8] This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
[9] But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
This would be Isaiah 29:1.3. Jesus is always quoting or fulfilling the prophets. Back to Matthew and it reads.
Mat.15:10] And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
[11] Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Notice he called the people and said “Hear” and he opened their ears.
Mat.15:12] Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
[13] But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
[14] Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
We just studied in chapter 13:37, the tares and the wheat. Let them that are spiritually blind follow them. But, you with eyes to see follow Jesus.
Mat.15:15] Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.
[16] And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
[17] Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
[18] But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
[19] For 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 unwashen hands defileth not a man.
When Jesus explains a parable, it is so easy to understand. Peter should have understood this parable for when Jesus speaks, he speaks about the spirit. What goes into a mans’ mouth is food, sometimes unclean. But what comes out of his mouth, comes from the heart. If it is evil, then he is evil. What we eat cannot be a sin against the spirit, only the flesh. Now Jesus is about to take a 50 mile walk into a country that is not of Israel, but a gentile nation. Back to Matthew.
Mat.15:21] Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
[22] 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.
[23] But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
[24] But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
[25] Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
She worshipped Him. Even this gentile. John 3:16, whomsoever.
Mat.15:26] But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.
[27] And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.
[28] 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.
Jesus never saw the daughter but simply spoke it and she was healed. Jesus did not break the law of an Israelite.
Mat.15:29] And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.
[30] 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:
[31] 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.
Faith was abundant here and so much healing took place.
Mat.15:32] 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.
Jesus always had compassion on the people. And we are to be Christ like. Share his compassion.
Mat.15:33] And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?
[34] And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.
Have they forgotten the 5,000 in the last chapter already.Ch.14:21.
Mat.15:35] And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
Always with order.
Mat.15:36] 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.
[37] And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.
[38] And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.
Always give thank to God for your food. Again these 4,000 had families also, so about 16,000 in total. They also took up the false teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees, about 7 baskets, 7 meaning spiritual completeness.
Mat.15:39] And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala,
Jesus and his disciples continue down the circuit. Healing and teaching as they go.
Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word. Bless all that love you, in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible