Matthew 15

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying,

“Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat bread.”

He answered them, “Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition?

For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’

But you say, ‘Whoever may tell his father or his mother, “Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God,”

he shall not honor his father or mother.’ You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition.

You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,

‘These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

And they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrine rules made by men.’”

He summoned the multitude, and said to them, “Hear, and understand.

That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”

Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

But he answered, “Every plant which my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted.

Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

Peter answered him, “Explain the parable to us.”

So Jesus said, “Do you also still not understand?

Don’t you understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly and then out of the body?

But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man.

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies.

These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn’t defile the man.”

Jesus went out from there and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon.

Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders and cried, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely possessed by a demon!”

But he answered her not a word. His disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away; for she cries after us.”

But he answered, “I wasn’t sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

But she came and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, help me.”

But he answered, “It is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

But she said, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

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.

Jesus departed from there and came near to the sea of Galilee; and he went up on the mountain and sat there.

Great multitudes came to him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others, and they put them down at his feet. He healed them,

so that the multitude wondered when they saw the mute speaking, the injured healed, the lame walking, and the blind seeing—and they glorified the God of Israel.

Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have continued with me now three days and have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away fasting, or they might faint on the way.”

The disciples said to him, “Where could we get so many loaves in a deserted place as to satisfy so great a multitude?”

Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.”

He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground;

and he took the seven loaves and the fish. He gave thanks and broke them, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.

They all ate and were filled. They took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over.

Those who ate were four thousand men, in addition to women and children.

Then he sent away the multitudes, got into the boat, and came into the borders of Magdala.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This chapter confronts the tension between human traditions and divine commandments, exposing the hypocrisy of religious leaders who prioritize external rituals over inner moral purity. It moves from a debate over handwashing to a broader revelation about the heart’s defilement, then shifts geographically and missionally, highlighting faith outside Israel and culminating in Jesus’ miraculous provision for a Gentile-leaning crowd, signaling the inclusion of the nations in God’s redemptive work.

Flow.

Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for subverting God’s commandments through human traditions, particularly those that nullify filial duty (vv. 1–9).
He teaches the crowds that defilement comes not from external intake but from the heart’s sinful overflow (vv. 10–14), later explaining this to the disciples (vv. 15–20).
The narrative transitions to a Canaanite woman whose persistent faith overcomes Jesus’ initial refusal, resulting in her daughter’s healing (vv. 21–28).
Jesus returns to ministry among crowds near the Decapolis, heals many, and multiplies food for four thousand, reinforcing his compassion and divine authority (vv. 29–39).

Connections.
Following chapter 14, where Jesus feeds the five thousand and walks on water, demonstrating his sovereignty over creation and provision for Israel, chapter 15 expands this mission beyond Jewish boundaries—first in dialogue with a Gentile woman, then in feeding a predominantly Gentile multitude. This prepares for chapter 16, where religious leaders again demand signs, and Jesus begins instructing his disciples more directly about the nature of his church and messianic identity, building on the revelation of his authority and the cost of discipleship.

What it teaches.
True worship requires alignment between outward practice and inward devotion; otherwise, it becomes vain (WCF 21.1). Human traditions that contradict God’s moral law—such as those allowing neglect of parents under religious pretenses—violate divine commandments (WCF 19.1). Sin originates in the heart, making internal purity essential (HC LD 6). The inclusion of the Canaanite woman demonstrates that faith, not ethnicity, determines fellowship with Christ (BC Article 35), and Jesus’ compassion foreshadows the worldwide reach of redemption (Canons of Dort, Head II, Art. 5). The second feeding miracle signals the gospel’s provision for Gentiles, echoing Israel’s wilderness provision but now with an open table.

Apply.
Christ’s mercy extends to those outside the expected covenant community when they come in faith, just as he honored the cry of a Gentile woman and fed a crowd beyond Israel’s borders.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.