Matthew 15 – Lesson 16

 

Last week we learned that Jesus provides for His own in every situation.

Matthew 15:1-20 – Clean and Unclean

Usually people wash their hands to remove dirt which help prevent disease.  The Pharisees and the teachers of the law questioned Jesus as to why the disciples didn’t wash their hands before they ate.  But their question didn’t refer to this ordinary action.  They wanted to know where Jesus stood on the basic religious traditions.  They asked Him why His disciples broke the tradition of the elders, which was to do a ceremonial washing of their hand before they ate.  Of course the Bible gives no law concerning this.  They were offended that the disciples didn't observe the rigid rituals they had made up.  The considered their made-up traditions were more important than God’s commands.

Jesus saw their self-righteousness, desires to maintain power, and no love for people.    Jesus turned their question into a challenge for them to examine themselves.  The question was a tradition where the Pharisees had directly contradicted Old Testament teaching of honoring your father and mother.  They were to give their aged parents financial support, but they had dedicated their money to God or the temple.  This was called "Corban" leaving it up to the temple to take care of their aged parents.  This way they washed their hands of any financial support.  Jesus called them "hypocrites" and said that Isaiah's prophesy was right.  "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  They worship me in vain; their teaching are but rules taught my men." - Matt. 15:8-9.  They focused on outward cleanliness instead of inward cleanliness.  They put their man-made traditions above the teachings of Scripture. 

Are you religious, but not truly worshipping God?

Do you twist the Scripture to suit your circumstances?

How are you a hypocrite about God and religion?

Then Jesus turned to the people to explain true defilement.  He said, "What goes into a man's mouth does not make him unclean, but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him unclean." - Matt. 15:11.  Jesus told the disciples to stay away from the Pharisees in verse 14.  They should have showed the people the way to God, instead they led people away.

Peter did not understand and Jesus called him, dull in verse 16, which means "do you still not understand?".  So Jesus explains.  "Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body?  But the things that come out of the mouth came from the heart, and these make a man unclean.  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.  These are what make a man unclean; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him unclean." - Matt. 15:17-20.  To eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.  It's all about what's in your heart.  

Principle:  God's Word is more important that mankind's traditions. 

Do your words show others you are a follower of Jesus? 

Matthew 15:21-28 – Faith of the Canaanite Woman

Jesus went outside the boundaries of Israel.  Probably because of danger from the Pharisees and also they needed to be alone in a quiet place so He could teach without interruption from the crowds.  They went to the region of Tyre and Sidon, which was Gentile country. 

A Canaanite woman approached Jesus crying and pleading with Him to have mercy on her because her daughter was suffering from demon-possession.  She called Jesus "Lord, Son of David".  Jesus didn't answer her.  It wasn’t because He wasn't interested in her, but because He knew that His silence would lead her to a greater faith.  Maybe He was testing her and wanted to know how strongly she believed in Him.  God doesn’t always answer our prayers immediately.

He said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." - Matt. 15:24.  I am sure He spoke with gentleness to her telling her His ministry was confined to Jews.  Then the woman knelt in humility before Him and called Him "Lord" again.  She was persistent and Jesus said "Woman, you have great faith!  Your request is granted." - Matt. 15:28.  He healed her daughter without ever seeing her just as He did in Matthew 8 when He healed the centurion’s slave.   Jesus gave her much more than she asked for.  He awoke in her great faith giving her a deeper relationship with Him as well as healed her daughter. 

God's purpose was that the gospel should first be presented to the Jews and then to the world.  It was only after the Cross that the Holy Spirit at Pentecost were the Jews able and equipped to give the gospel to the world.  Then at that time the world would be prepared to receive it. 

What is keeping you from praying persistently to God?

What rewards have you receive from persistent prayer?

How can you show Jesus that you have faith in Him?

Principles:

God rewards those who seek Him.

God usually has more for us than what's on the surface. 

Matthew 15:29-39 - Jesus Feeds 4,000 

Jesus left and went along the Sea of Galilee and then up on a mountain.  Again great crowds of people came to Him with their sick for healing.  He healed the lame, the blind, the cripple, the mute.  This is a picture of eternity - no more sickness.  We will have perfect bodies.  

The people were with Jesus for three days and were hungry.  Jesus had compassion on them and again He provided food for them as He did the 5,000 in chapter 14.  There were really more than 4,000, if you include the women and children.  There were probably about 15,000 total.  Here are the differences between the two events:

5,000

they were to sit on grass in groups of  50

there were 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread

there were 12 baskets of leftovers

they were mostly Jews

they were 1 day without food

4,000

they were to sit on ground

there were a few fish and 7 loaves of bread

there were 7 baskets of leftovers

there were more Gentiles than Jews

there were 3 days without food 

There are lessons to learn from these two miracles:  God is always aware of our needs.  He always provides.  He desires to feed us and then for us to feed others.  There is nothing impossible for God.  We should give thanks to God as Jesus did.  Jesus is the Bread of Life for the world. 

Do you share in the feeding of others?

Will you ask God to show you how to help others know Him?

Principle:  Jesus is the Bread of Life for the world. 

This chapter teaches many lessons.  It shows Jesus' compassion for those in need.  He sees our hearts and never turns anyone away.  It teaches us that our motives come out of our thinking and what is in our heart is either clean or unclean.  One example of being unclean is gossip.  It comes out as being judgmental.  We need to humbly and earnestly seek Him and worship Him before we ask Him for something.

Join me here next week as we continue our study of Matthew -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Resources:

The Holy Bible – New International Version

Easyenglish.bible

My research and my insights are from BSF (Bible Study Fellowship)

Visit https: www.bstinternational.org for a class near you.