The Tradition of the Elders
(Matthew 15:1–9)
Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, Mat 15:1-20Mrk 3:22Luk 11:53-54Luk 5:17 and they saw some of His disciples eating with hands that were defiled—that is, unwashed. Act 10:28Mat 7:3-5Rom 14:14Act 10:14-15Act 11:8Dan 6:4-5Mat 23:23-25
Now in holding to the tradition of the elders, the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat until they wash their hands ceremonially. 1 Gal 1:14Mrk 7:13Col 2:21-23Col 2:81Pe 1:18Mat 15:2-6Mrk 7:5Mrk 7:7-10 And on returning from the market, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions for them to observe, including the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and couches for dining. 2 Heb 9:10Luk 11:38-39Mat 23:25Isa 1:16Jas 4:8Jer 4:14Jhn 2:61Jn 1:7
So the Pharisees and scribes questioned Jesus: “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders? Instead, they eat with defiled hands.” 2Th 3:6Act 21:21Act 21:24Gal 1:14Mat 15:2Mrk 2:16-18Rom 4:122Th 3:11
Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: Isa 29:13Tit 1:16Mat 15:7-9Ezk 33:312Ti 3:5Mat 23:13-15Jas 2:14-17Jhn 5:42
‘These people honor Me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from Me.
They worship Me in vain; Isa 29:13Mat 15:9Col 2:22Jas 1:26Mat 6:71Ti 4:1-3Tit 3:91Sa 12:21
they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ 3
You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men. 4” Mrk 7:3-4Isa 1:12
He went on to say, “You neatly set aside the command of God to maintain 5your own tradition. Isa 29:13Gal 2:21Jer 44:16-17Isa 24:5Mat 15:3-6Psa 119:126Mrk 7:13Mrk 7:3 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ 6 and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ 7 Exo 21:17Exo 20:12Deu 5:16Lev 20:9Mat 15:4Mrk 10:19Deu 27:16Pro 20:20 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), Mat 23:181Ti 5:4-8Mat 15:5 he is no longer permitted to do anything for his father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.” Mrk 7:9Tit 1:14Isa 8:20Mat 5:17-20Hos 8:12Jer 8:8-9Mat 15:6Ezk 18:14
What Defiles a Man
(Matthew 15:10–20)
Once again Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, “All of you, listen to Me and understand: Mat 15:10Pro 8:5Act 8:30Isa 6:91Ki 18:211Ki 22:28Luk 12:54-57Psa 94:8 Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him; but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him.” 8 Pro 4:23Lev 11:42-47Tit 1:15Heb 13:9Mat 12:34Heb 9:10Mrk 7:18-23Rom 14:17
After Jesus had left the crowd and gone into the house, His disciples inquired about the parable. Mat 15:15Mat 13:36Mrk 9:28Mat 13:10Mrk 4:10Mrk 4:34
“Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, Mat 15:16-17Heb 5:11Isa 28:9-10Luk 24:25Mat 16:111Co 3:2Jer 5:4-5Jhn 3:10 because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.) 9 Mat 15:171Co 6:13Act 10:15Act 11:9Col 2:16Col 2:21-22Luk 11:41Rom 14:1-12
He continued: “What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him. Jas 3:6Jas 1:14-15Jas 4:1Mrk 7:15Mat 12:34-37Psa 41:6Mic 2:1Heb 7:6 For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 10 Jer 17:9Jas 4:1-3Rom 8:7-8Gal 5:19-21Mat 15:19Act 8:22Ezk 38:10Jas 2:4 greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. Mat 20:151Pe 2:151Pe 5:52Co 10:5Ecc 7:25Mat 6:23Oba 1:3-41Sa 18:8-9 All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.” Mrk 7:151Co 3:17Tit 1:15Jud 1:8Mrk 7:18
The Faith of the Gentile Woman
(Matthew 15:21–28)
Jesus left that place and went to the region of Tyre. 11 Not wanting anyone to know He was there, He entered a house, but was unable to escape their notice. Mat 15:21-28Mat 11:21Ezk 28:2Mrk 6:31-32Mrk 3:7-81Ti 5:25Mat 9:28Ezk 28:21-22 Instead, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit soon heard about Jesus, and she came and fell at His feet. Mat 15:22Act 10:25-26Mrk 1:40Mrk 5:22-23Mrk 5:33Mrk 9:17-23Luk 17:16Rev 22:8-9 Now she was a Greek woman of Syrophoenician origin, and she kept asking Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. Mat 15:22Col 3:11Gal 3:28Isa 49:12
“First let the children have their fill,” He said. “For it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” Mat 15:23-28Mat 7:6Act 22:21Eph 2:12Mat 10:5Rom 15:8
“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs 12under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Rom 10:12Rom 3:29Act 11:17-18Isa 45:22Luk 15:30-32Luk 7:6-8Eph 2:12-14Eph 3:8
Then Jesus told her, “Because of this answer, you may go. The demon has left your daughter.” Mat 5:3Isa 66:2Mat 8:9-131Jn 3:8Isa 57:15-16 And she went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone. 1Jn 3:8Jhn 4:50-52
The Deaf and Mute Man
(Matthew 9:27–34)
Then Jesus left the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 13 Mrk 5:20Mat 15:29-31Mat 4:25Mrk 7:24Mat 11:21Mat 4:18 Some people brought to Him a man who was deaf and hardly able to speak, and they begged Jesus to place His hand on him. Luk 11:14Mrk 5:23Mat 9:32-33
So Jesus took him aside privately, away from the crowd, and put His fingers into the man’s ears. Then He spit and touched the man’s tongue. Mrk 8:23Jhn 9:6-7Mrk 5:401Ki 17:19-222Ki 4:33-342Ki 4:4-6 And looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”). Jhn 11:41Mrk 5:41Act 9:34Act 9:40Jhn 11:33Mrk 6:41Jhn 11:43Mrk 8:12 Immediately the man’s ears were opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak plainly. Isa 35:5-6Isa 32:3-4Mat 11:5Mrk 2:12Psa 33:9
Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more He ordered them, the more widely they proclaimed it. Mat 8:4Mrk 1:44-45Mrk 3:12Mrk 5:43Mrk 8:26 The people were utterly astonished and said, “He has done all things well! He makes even the deaf hear and the mute speak!” Mrk 6:51Exo 4:10-11Mrk 4:41Mrk 5:42Gen 1:31Mrk 2:12Psa 139:14Act 14:11