Matthew 15: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Matthew 15 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Pharisees and scribes come from Jerusalem to challenge Jesus about handwashing traditions (vv. 1-2). Jesus responds by pointing out their disobedience to God’s commands compared to their traditions (vv.

Key verse

“But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man.”
Matthew 15:18 (WEB)

Outline

Matthew 15:1–9 Challenge of Tradition
Matthew 15:10–20 Inward vs. Outward Purity
Matthew 15:21–28 Faith of the Canaanite Woman
Matthew 15:29–31 Healing the Multitude
Matthew 15:32–39 Feeding the Four Thousand

Discussion questions

In v2, why do the Pharisees question Jesus about the disciples not washing hands?
What does Jesus say is unclean in v11?
In v24, why does Jesus refer to the people he was sent to as 'the lost sheep of the house of Israel'?
In v26, why does Jesus call the Canaanite woman’s request inappropriate?
When have you encountered a situation where tradition conflicted with what you believed was right?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Matthew 15: Mark 7, Proverbs 4, Isaiah 29.

Before next time: read Matthew 16.