Matthew 15

Inward vs. Outward Purity Matthew 15:10–20

¹⁰Verse 10. He summoned the multitude, and said to them, “Hear, and understand. ¹¹Verse 11. That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.” ¹²Verse 12. Then the disciples came, and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying?” ¹³Verse 13. But he answered, “Every plant which my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted. ¹⁴Verse 14. Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.” ¹⁵Verse 15. Peter answered him, “Explain the parable to us.”

¹⁶Verse 16. So Jesus said, “Do you also still not understand? ¹⁷Verse 17. Don’t you understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly, and then out of the body? ¹⁸Verse 18. But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man. ¹⁹Verse 19. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies. ²⁰Verse 20. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn’t defile the man.”

Faith of the Canaanite Woman Matthew 15:21–28

²¹Verse 21. Jesus went out from there, and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²²Verse 22. Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely possessed by a demon!” ²³Verse 23. But he answered her not a word. His disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away; for she cries after us.” ²⁴Verse 24. But he answered, “I wasn’t sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” ²⁵Verse 25. But she came and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, help me.” ²⁶Verse 26. But he answered, “It is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

²⁷Verse 27. But she said, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” ²⁸Verse 28. Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

Healing the Multitude Matthew 15:29–31

²⁹Verse 29. Jesus departed from there, and came near to the sea of Galilee; and he went up into the mountain, and sat there. ³⁰Verse 30. Great multitudes came to him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others, and they put them down at his feet. He healed them, ³¹Verse 31. so that the multitude wondered when they saw the mute speaking, the injured healed, the lame walking, and the blind seeing—and they glorified the God of Israel.

Feeding the Four Thousand Matthew 15:32–39

³²Verse 32. Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away fasting, or they might faint on the way.” ³³Verse 33. The disciples said to him, “Where should we get so many loaves in a deserted place as to satisfy so great a multitude?” ³⁴Verse 34. Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” ³⁵Verse 35. He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground; ³⁶Verse 36. and he took the seven loaves and the fish. He gave thanks and broke them, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.

³⁷Verse 37. They all ate, and were filled. They took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over. ³⁸Verse 38. Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. ³⁹Verse 39. Then he sent away the multitudes, got into the boat, and came into the borders of Magdala.