Matthew 15:1
THEN SOME PHARISEES AND TEACHERS OF THE LAW. They came to protest against Jesus and his teaching, and to turn the people back to the Tradition. See Mark 7:1-13 for a more complete account.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SOME PHARISEES AND TEACHERS OF THE LAW. They came to protest against Jesus and his teaching, and to turn the people back to the Tradition. See Mark 7:1-13 for a more complete account.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY IS IT THAT YOUR DISCIPLES DISOBEY? Not God's Law, but the teaching handed down by the ancestors. These teachings formed an "unwritten law" which they followed carefully (_see_ Galatians 1:14), IN THE PROPER WAY. A religious ritual. It was said that Rabbi Akiba, put in prison by the Romans and wi... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS ANSWERED, "AND WHY DO YOU. ?" He does not deny their charge, but shows that their "unwritten law" caused them to break God's Law.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR GOD SAID. (Exodus 21:7) Only God has the right to make religious laws. Jesus quotes one which they did not follow, and the punishment for breaking it.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YOU TEACH. Their Tradition said just the opposite of God's command. THIS BELONGS TO GOD. CORBAN. The teachers of the Law said that if a person said about his money and property, _"This belongs to God_," he did not have to take care of this mother and father, even though he did not use his money... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS HOW. They contradicted God by what they taught. Church tradition can lead to dogma that directly contradicts what God has said. The PRIMAL FORM of the church of Christ became distorted due to the dogma of tradition.... [ Continue Reading ]
YON HYPOCRITES! One who fools himself as well as one who fools others. Jesus quotes Isaiah 29:13 to show God's evaluation of them.... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE PEOPLE. HONOR ME WITH THEIR WORDS. Talk is cheap. True worship involves the heart as well (_See_ Romans 12:1-2).... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS NO USE FOR THEM. Their worship is a waste of time. BECAUSE THEY TEACH MAN-MADE COMMANDMENTS. They substituted their Tradition for the rules of God. Many "standard practices" in churches today cannot be found in God's rules. To please God, go directly to the New Testament and do as much or as l... [ Continue Reading ]
LISTEN, AND UNDERSTAND! He shows the people that these teachers of the Law do not really understand what it says.... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS NOT WHAT GOES INTO A PERSON'S MONTH. Jesus shows that a pure heart is far more important than "ritually clean food" in the stomach. God had commanded certain dietary laws [since repealed, Acts 10:9-16] to demonstrate moral purity, but the teachers of the Law seriously distorted these through t... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD THEIR FEELINGS HURT? Because he "kicked" their Tradition. Perhaps even the disciples felt some of this themselves.... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY PLANT. WILL BE POLLED UP. Some ideas are harmless, some are harmful, but only God's Truth will stand the test. Since we "act out" what we believe, everyone who bases their hope on "man-made commandments" will be "pulled up" (_compare_ Matthew 13:30).... [ Continue Reading ]
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THEM. Don't be concerned by the hurt feelings and the opposition of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law. THEY ARE BLIND LEADERS. They claim to be spiritual guides, but they cannot find their own way, much less lead others.... [ Continue Reading ]
TELL US WHAT THIS PARABLE MEANS. Peter is aware that there is a deep meaning to this (in what Jesus said in Matthew 15:11).... [ Continue Reading ]
16-17. JESUS SAID TO THEM. His disciples still cannot think in spiritual terms. The things eaten, pass through the body and are expelled. Such things cannot defile the soul.... [ Continue Reading ]
18-19. FOR FROM HIS HEART. The heart symbolizes the "real man." Evil actions and evil words begin from evil ideas. Compare Matthew 7:15-20.... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE ARE THE THINGS. Sin makes a man unclean in the eyes of God. (Galatians 5:19-21).... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS LEFT THAT PLACE. Tyre and Sidon are cities of Phoenicia on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea about one hundred miles northwest of Jerusalem. Tyre was the leading seaport. These were Gentile cities in a Gentile country, and this was the only time Jesus went outside Palestine.... [ Continue Reading ]
A CANAANITE WOMAN. Mark says she was a foreigner, born in Phoenicia of Syria. SON OF DAVID. She knew the prophecies. Two bright examples of faith are this woman and the Roman officer (Matthew 8:8-9). HAVE MERCY ON ME. Her daughter's problem is her own. She begs a favor from Jesus. A DEMON. (See Matt... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT JESUS DID NOT SAY A WORD TO HER. He acted this way in order to be able to teach an important lesson here.... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE BEEN SENT ONLY TO. His _personal_ mission was only to the Jews, and his disciples were sent only to the Jews (Matthew 10:5-6). But after he was crucified and raised to glory, God canceled the binding rules, nailing them to his cross (Colossians 2:13-14). The Great Commission sent the follower... [ Continue Reading ]
HELP ME, SIR! She "fell at his feet" (_see note on_ Revelation 5:14). She would not give up!... [ Continue Reading ]
IT ISN'T RIGHT. What he said was not an insult, but normal Jewish language emphasizing the separation between Jew and Gentile. Jesus is giving her an opportunity to declare her faith.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT EVEN THE DOGS EAT THE LEFTOVERS. She admits the truth of what Jesus said, but will not give up asking him to help her daughter.... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU ARE A WOMAN OF GREAT FAITH. She showed her great faith by: (1) She came to Christ in spite of the separation between Jew and Gentile. (2) She did not give up even when her prayer seemed unanswered. (3) She did not give up when arguments against her were presented. (4) She continued until her req... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WENT ALONG BY LAKE GALILEE. Mark tells that Jesus circled around to come through the territory of the Ten Towns to reach Lake Galilee. Mark mentions a miracle not recorded by the others (Mark 7:32-37).... [ Continue Reading ]
LARGE CROWDS CAME TO HIM. People will sacrifice their health to make a fortune, and then spend their fortune to try to recapture health. Jesus was a true healer, and very popular.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PEOPLE WERE AMAZED. Some of these who were healed, were their own kinfolk. The _truth_ of what Jesus was doing amazed them! THEY PRAISED THE GOD OF ISRAEL. The miracles which Christ did caused people to praise Jehovah]God the Father], although used of Christ in Psalms 97:7, quoted in Hebrews 1:6... [ Continue Reading ]
I FEEL SORRY FOR THESE PEOPLE. They had been with him on the hill for three days, without regular food.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE WILL WE FIND ENOUGH FOOD? Their question is a hint to Jesus to perform a miracle.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW MUCH BREAD DO YOU HAVE? _"Seven loaves and a few small fish."_ Compare this with Matthew 14:15-21.... [ Continue Reading ]
35-37. SO JESUS ORDERED THE CROWD TO SIT DOWN. Again, Jesus gives thanks to the Father, asking him to bless this food, and breaks it in pieces. All have enough to eat, and seven baskets full of pieces are gathered up.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOUR THOUSAND MEN. Not quite as many as the former feeding of five thousand men.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN JESUS SENT THE PEOPLE away. To rest. Also, he could not allow the people to make him an earthly king, since his mission was to be God's sacrifice (Luke 9:31_:_ Colossians 1:20). Jesus gets into a boat and goes to the territory of Magdan (Mark says Dalmanutha) near Magdala, about three miles nor... [ Continue Reading ]