Matthew Chapter 15 — Tradition and True Defilement
Jesus debates the Pharisees over tradition versus God's commands, heals the daughter of a faithful Canaanite woman, and feeds a crowd of four thousand.
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Notable Verses
Matthew 15:11
“That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”
This verse summarizes Jesus' teaching that spiritual purity is a matter of internal character rather than external ritual.
Matthew 15:28
“Then Jesus answered her, 'Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.' And her daughter was healed from that hour.”
This interaction highlights the inclusion of Gentiles in Jesus' ministry and the importance of persistent faith.
Chapter Summary
In Matthew 15, Jesus confronts the Pharisees and scribes who prioritize human traditions, like ceremonial hand washing, over God's commandments. He teaches that true defilement comes from the heart—expressed through evil thoughts, words, and actions—rather than external rituals. Moving to the region of Tyre and Sidon, Jesus encounters a Canaanite woman who persistently asks for her daughter's healing. Although Jesus initially notes his primary mission to the house of Israel, he commends the woman's great faith and grants her request. Returning to the Sea of Galilee, Jesus heals many who are lame, blind, and mute. The chapter concludes with the miraculous feeding of four thousand men, plus women and children, using seven loaves of bread and a few small fish, leaving seven baskets of fragments remaining after the crowd had eaten their fill.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jesus rebuked them for using human traditions to bypass God's direct commandments. He specifically cited how they used the tradition of 'devoted gifts' to avoid their responsibility to honor and support their parents.
Jesus explains that spiritual defilement does not come from eating with unwashed hands, which was a Pharisaic tradition. Instead, defilement comes from the heart, which produces evil thoughts, murder, adultery, and false testimony.
The Canaanite woman was a Gentile living in the borders of Tyre and Sidon. She demonstrated great faith by persistently asking Jesus to heal her demon-possessed daughter, even when Jesus tested her resolve.
In this chapter, Jesus feeds four thousand men using seven loaves and a few fish, resulting in seven baskets of leftovers. The previous miracle in chapter 14 involved five thousand men, five loaves, and two fish, with twelve baskets of leftovers.
Study Note
The region of Tyre and Sidon was historically Phoenician territory, and Jesus' visit there signifies a broadening of his ministry reach toward non-Jewish populations.
Related Chapters
Mark Chapter 7
This chapter contains a parallel account of Jesus' teaching on tradition and the heart.
Matthew Chapter 14
Features the earlier miraculous feeding of the five thousand for comparison with the four thousand.
Exodus Chapter 20
Contains the original commandment to honor one's father and mother that Jesus references.
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