Matthew Chapter 15
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Matthew Chapter 15 (The Disciples understanding)
Matthew Chapter 15 (The Disciples understanding)
Intro:
Just to recap from the previous chapter, John the Baptist was beheaded, we learned about Herod the tetrarch and all of his family mess,
We also saw Christ, break the bread and fish and feed the multitudes with what little supply, and also Peter crying to the Lord through the storm and him walking to Christ. Which is when he refers to Him as the Messiah. and Peter begins to sink from not staying focused on Christ.
Christ and the Disciples came unto the land of Gennesaret, and this is where we will pick up in chapter 15.
Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
Scribes and Pharisees both being Jewish religious leaders or “elders”
and where it says, “which were of Jerusalem,”
its important to note that Jerusalem and Gennesaret are roughly 80 miles apart.
So these religious elders were here for a specific reason, most likely to try and confront Jesus.
That is why Matthew documents, “which were of Jerusalem” because the chance they were settled here would be impractical.
Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
These are those Pharisees and Scribes speaking to Jesus here. I read this as they have been watching them, looking for something to pick apart.
Anyone want to take a guess at what the immediate red flag is in this verse?
“Why do thy disciples transgress the traditions of the ELDERS”
Look at Christs response.
But He answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
We have seen Christ do this before with the Pharisees, they try to check Christ and He immediately turns the tables on them, questioning them about the commandments from God.
Again, Christ being our perfect example, Him and His disciples didn’t follow the traditions of man, or in other words, they weren't “politically” correct
It doesn’t matter if its politically correct, if its not morally correct than it’s wrong, period.
because all of Christ’s teachings and leading were based around proper morals which are the commandments of God.
For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
This is the 5th commandment from God, Honour your father and mother and your days should be long on the earth.
Exodus 20:12, also Deuteronomy 5:16
He that curseth, let him die to death.
Exodus 21:17, also Leviticus 20:9
Honor meaning to prize or value.
Outside from this chapter, this commandment doesn’t mean you can’t disagree with, or have a different outlook on something with your parents, not all parents are the same, and as parents, we make mistakes raising our children everyday. we are all human,
but on the flip side, Parents? how we raise our children, and help guide them, our outlooks and ideas should be worth honoring right?
Every parent is different and every child is raised different, even siblings can be raised different.
But as a parent, strive to raise your children in the word of God, nothing is more honorable than that.
But why is Christ quoting this commandment to the Pharisees about their obedience to God’s commandments?
But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
Back history here,
But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
This is Marks point of view on what's taking place here. He uses the word “corban”
The Pharisee’s were known to encourage people to give to them religiously before their families, This is what Christ is referencing here, The Pharisee’s would use Corban as a loop hole to fund the temple instead of the people even if their families were in need, basically once an asset was declared “Corban” it was dedicated to “God”. and those resources couldn’t be used for anything or anyone else.
Corban is a just a term that could be used for good. but the Pharisees used it as a gateway for themselves. Keep in mind, this “corban” was a man made religious practice.
Christ is highlighting this matter of their encouragement of man’s traditions over God’s commandments.
Which is what he states in this very next verse.
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.
Like we have talked about on Thursday nights, any time you see italicized words in your King James bible, that means it was added to try and help for better understanding,
I know it isn’t italicized on the slide but the phrase “he shall be free” was added.
So if we re read this verse without using what was added later by man,
Christ is saying, if you honor not your father and mother, then the commandments of God is made void by your own man made traditions or practices.
Remember, Honor doesn’t mean to agree with fully in every way, you can respect your parents while having your own opinions, also, all parents are different, you have to ask yourself, are they worth honoring, another rabbit hole for another lesson.
Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
Christ quoting the prophet Isaiah yet again, fulfilling divine prophecy.
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Wherefore the Lord said,Forasmuch as this people drawnear me with their mouth,And with their lips do honour me,But have removed their heart far from me,And their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
In other words, you can’t see someones character based on what they say, character is based on their actions.
These Pharisees say they are of God, but based off their actions, they follow mans traditions instead of God’s commandments.
And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
Christ is using this conflict with the Pharisee’s and Scribes as a teaching moment for the multitudes and His disciples.
What I like about this, is that it shows how conflict and problems can be used for educational purposes and experience.
Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Defileth there meaning “ritually unclean or ceremonially unclean”
Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
The disciples are like “dude these guys are ticked about what you just said”
So what?
Christ is preaching the word of God, again, you can’t twist the word of God to fit your lifestyle, you have to change your lifestyle to fit the word of God.
If His word offends you, then it sounds like it’s time for some self evaluation and changes to be made.
The word of God can be offensive, but that doesn't mean it isn’t the truth, or morally correct. that means we gotta make some changes to align WITH the word of God.
Which is what the Pharisees should've been doing.
But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
Jesus is using the same style of imagery that Isaiah uses in Isaiah 60
but what does he mean here? if God didn't plant it, how can it be rooted up? and what are the plants representing?
Let’s look back here at the parable of the sower.
He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
God planted the good seed into the world,
The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
Satan planted the bad seed, not God.
He is testing the disciples here, seeing if they are paying attention.
He is comparing the Pharisees to the plants in which God didn’t plant, the tares. even though they were Jewish, Christ is implying that they do NOT come from the Father because they oppose God’s commandments and follow and spread teachings of man made laws and traditions.
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
The Pharisees new the law better than the rest, they were supposed to be teaching God’s way, but instead were more concerned with traditions and man made rituals to where Christ calls them unworthy guides.
The guides are blind leading the blind and both the leaders and followers will fall from bad guidance.
This is big here, because for a teacher of the word of God this is a big weight because you don’t want to blindly help spread the word of God allow those learning from you to be blindly led to fall.
and on the other hand, this shows how important it is for everyone to study the word for themselves as well.
If you ONLY listen to what your preacher teaches, and they are wrong, guess what?
your gonna be following false doctrine as well, when the blind lead the blind, both will fall in a ditch.
Again, if there is anything that you question or see a contradiction with in anything we study on Thursday or Sunday’s please speak up, one of 2 things, either we haven't explained and showed enough proof of something, or either we are teaching false truth.
Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.
We are going to see a pattern here with Peter, he speaks on behalf of the disciples multiple times throughout their journey and even during the Pentecost, Peter almost seems like the speaker for the disciples. Kind of collectively speaking for all of there sake.
He is asking Christ to further explain this parable, like they aren't fully understanding.
Remember, this parable is derived from the parable of the sower from chapter 13. They should be seeing this clearly. and that is why Jesus point blank asks in this very next verse.
And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
Like you should know this,
Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
The things from the heart or the mind are what make someone unclean, not whats on the outside in other words.
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
This is so important, because Christ is saying that its not whats on the outside that defiles you, it's what's in your heart and in your mind. It isn’t about how many times you show up on Sunday morning throughout the year, or how many times you perform man made practices, It’s about where your heart and your mind are that show your true character.
Christ teachings here are also a contradiction of what many believe the mark of the beast will be,
the mark of the beast isn't a tattoo on your hand and on your forehead, or a chip implanted under the skin, it is in your head your mind, and your hand, your actions.
If someone physically forces you commit wickedness, that doesn’t make you a bad seed, It’s what is in your heart and your mind that determines that.
This goes back to like we've talked about in the past, your relationship and repentance with Christ is completely personal. Guidance is great, but at the end of the day, I can’t give my son eternal salvation, that is a relationship that is between him and God, completely personal.
Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
Christ is departing from Gennesaret, headed to two gentile cities that are coastal and northwest of Gennesaret.
So again, these are Gentile cities he is departing to
Which is roughly 50 miles away from Gennesaret where they were.
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.
We are going to see later that Marks depiction of what is happening here, he refers to this woman as a Syrophoenician, which means straight Gentile.
Canaanites were Israels enemy back in Deuteronomy 7, but they no longer exist at this point in time as a distinct people.
It is believed that Matthew uses “canaanite” to describe this woman to emphasize her being an outsider or “gentile”
But notice this Gentile woman recognizes Christ as “the Son of David”
and the word Lord used here translated is literally “supreme leader” or God.
She is recognizing Him as the Son of God through the lineage of David. THE Messiah,
The gentile woman recognized Christ more so than some of the Jewish people.
But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Christ is explaining here to the disciples that His mission is a process to follow, He is to guide the lost sheep of Israel first, referring to the Jews.
And after His death on the cross, it opened the doors for salvation to ALL.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
But as a promise from the old testament, Christ was to lead the lost sheep of Israel, That is where a lot of people still stick with “Jews are God’s chosen people”
That covenant is fulfilled, there is neither Jew nor Gentile, all are one through Jesus Christ.
But there was still a process in which it had to take place in a certain order.
Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
This gentile woman kept on and kept on, and WORSHIPPED Him,
Looks to me like we are seeing some faith from a gentile.
This is something I disagree with Arnold Murray on here, he compares this woman to the men who were possessed where Christ cast the demons into the swine?
I don’t see this being the case at all with this woman, remember the demons recognized Christ immediately just like the gentile woman here, but this woman Worshiped him.
She didn’t just recognize Him as the Messiah, she went after Him and stayed consistent,
I just don’t see the connection here to compare her to the men on the shore who were demon possessed in Matthew Chapter 8.
But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.
What Christ is saying here is a metaphor for, it isn’t the way to take the teachings for the Jews and teach it to the Gentiles.
Christ isn’t calling this woman that is worshiping him a “dog” per say, but he is just informing here, This isn’t the way. It is just the metaphor he is using.
Again, there is a bigger plan than the people are seeing here.
And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.
This is a great test of Faith here, this woman isn’t contradicting Christ,
Christ is what? the bread of Life right, She is simply asking for a “crumb” from the bread of Life, again showing that she Knows who He truly is, and for a gentile this is big.
Remember the Romans centurion in Matthew chapter 8? He was a gentile, but showed such great faith, even more so than the Jews, that Christ blessed him for it.
This is a more accurate comparison to the woman here rather than the demon possessed in chapter 8
That is what is taking place here, kind of foreshadowing what is to come later with neither Jew nor Gentile but all are the same through faith in Jesus Christ.
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.
He cast out the devil her daughter was vexed with.
Again, this story of the woman paralleling to the Roman centurion in Matthew Chapter 8
And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.
Christ is returning back to Galilee, going up into the mountain and sat down,
James covered this last lesson, pay attention to what Christ does here.
whether it be for 5 minutes or 5 hours, set aside some alone time away from all distractions to solely focus on your relationship with God and talk with Him.
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:
Christ has just walked went about 50 miles to Tyre and Sidon, and then roughly 35 miles back to Galilee,
and the multitudes of Galilee brought there sick and He healed them,
so you can only imagine how tired he had to be, again Jesus was in the flesh just like us now, of course he got hungry, tired, etc
This shows how His ministry was WORK. He put His work boots on every day and performed Works. Just like we should strive to do every morning we wake up. even when we are tired or wore out, perform your works for God.
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.
Jesus performing miracles unto the multitudes and they glorified “the God of Israel” recognizing that HE IS THE MESSIAH.
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.
What we are about to see is a direct reflection of what we saw in Chapter 14 in Matthew.
They have continued with Him for 3 days, after the feast in chapter 14 with nothing to eat since then.
What is 3 in biblical numeric? The signature of God.
And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?
Almost them again questioning how they are to feed the multitudes.
And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.
So in chapter 14, they fed the multitudes from 5 loaves and 2 fish, now they have 7 loaves and few fish.
what is 7 in biblical numeric? completeness or perfection.
And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
Again, James went over this, but typically in this culture, you would sit down to feast.
This being a reflection of chapter 14, they have a little bit more but not much more provisions than the last time, but they are about to FEAST
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.
Again 7 meaning totality or completeness.
And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.
And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.
Christ Again feeding the multitudes from what little provisions they had, and them feasting.
And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala
Conclusion
Going through this chapter and even the previous, what is the pattern we are seeing with the Pharisee?
Dont get caught up in man made religious practices where we lose site on God being right in front of us.
Just like the multitudes following Christ, they never questioned what little provisions they had, because they had faith that Christ WILL provide for them, even after 3 days of no food, Christ provided and blessed them because of there faith being shown.
Matthew Chapter 15 (The Disciples Understanding)
Matthew Chapter 15 (The Disciples Understanding)
