The Bible

 

Matthew 15

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1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

35 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.

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.

39 And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala,

   

Commentary

 

Explanation of Matthew 15

By Rev. John Clowes M.A.

Verses 1, 2. That the perverse church is scrupulous about the doctrines of men and external purifications.

Verse 3. But, at the same time, careless about fulfilling the requirements of God.

Verses 4, 5, 6. For whereas the Divine Love and Wisdom ought to be exalted above all other things, they of the perverse church exalt themselves and their own talents above those Divine principles, and would receive honour from God, rather than pay honour to God, which is contrary to the requirement of God.

Verses 7, 8. Hence their worship becomes merely external and hypocritical, as had been predicted.

Verse 9. And is attended with no blessing, because grounded in human respect, more than in regard to the Divine Law.

Verses 10, 11. When yet no man is such as his thought and doctrine is, but every man is such as his intention or love is.

Verses 12, 13. That this truth is opposed by those who are in external worship separate from internal, when yet the Word teaches that every human good and truth must perish, unless grounded in the Divine Good.

Verse 14. And that they who teach otherwise are in infernal falsities, and mislead.

Verse 15. That faith grounded in charity is desirous to be instructed in the internal sense of the Word.

Verses 16, 17, 18. And is taught that nothing either of good or of evil is appropriated, whilst it is only in the thought of the understanding, until it gains a place in the will or love, and thence comes into the thought and act.

Verses 19, 20. For that from the will or love comes all opposition to heavenly truth and good, and hence the destruction of charity, the perversion of good and of truth, the persuasion that life is self-derived, the confounding of good with evil, and of truth with the false, and a denial of Divine influence, which are the only sources of defilement on the part of man.

Verses 21, 22. That they, who are in the affection of the knowledges of heavenly truth both internal and external, apply to the Lord's Divine Humanity, and supplicate deliverance from infernal falsities.

Verses 23, 24. But their supplication seems at first to be disregarded, and themselves to be rejected, because they were not of the church.

Verses 25, 26, 27. Nevertheless they persist in their application for Divine aid, urging that although they are not of the church, and are in concupiscences of evil, yet through Divine Mercy they may become receptive of some small measure of heavenly good.

Verse 28. Therefore, finally, their supplication is granted, and they are liberated from infernal falsities, because they are found to be in faith grounded in the good of charity.

Verses 29-32. That through the union of the Divine Good and Divine Truth in the Lord's Humanity, the spiritual infirmities of mankind are further wrought upon, insomuch that what was perverted is restored to order; the ignorant are instructed and enlightened; they who could not confess the Lord, are enabled to confess Him; and they who were without good, receive good, and thus the Divine Humanity of the Lord is acknowledged to be the alone Source of all spiritual life and salvation.

Verses 32-39. And communication of good and truth, and conjunction thereby, were effected between the Lord and His church.

Verse 32. And this of the Divine Mercy.

Verse 33. Although it seemed impossible to those who were before without good and truth.

Verse 34. Nevertheless it is necessary that they should first inquire concerning those heavenly principles and their origin.

Verse 35. And should enter into a state of internal rest by separation from cravings.

Verse 36. And also should receive with thanksgiving through the medium of the Word.

Verses 37, 38. In which case there was full reception and appropriation of heavenly good, by all who were in truth, in the affection of truth, and in innocence.

Verse 39. And communication was opened with those who were in external good and truth.