Matthew 15

Matthew 15:1

THen] After the former miracles in the last chapter. The more famous Gods ministers grow, the greater is the envie of their adversaries.

came to Jesus] Mark 7:1. They left Jerusalem, to come after him into Galilee; not to learn of him, but to ensnare him.

scribes and Pharisees] None commonly are greater contemners of God, then those who take upon them to be teachers and preservers of Gods law.

which were of Hierusalem] Not of the lower towns, or lesser villages. The more learned and honourable wicked men are, the greater enemies are they to the Gospel.

Matthew 15:2

Why do thy disciples transgresse] They come not to dispute the case, or to tax the disciples onely, but to quarrell with Christ himself. Thou teachest them so to do, or toleratest it in them. So doth Adam with God, Genesis 3:12. the woman which thou gavest me.

the tradition of the elders?] Which we have received from our ancestours, who were holy men; or, which the governours of our Church, whom we ought to obey, require of us.

Matthew 15:3

Why do ye also] Christ doth not give any answer to the Pharisees, but accuseth them: yet he satisfies the multitudes, v. 10, 11. though obscurely, and his disciples more plainly, v. 15. 17.

transgresse the commandment of God] Their wickednesse, in giving leave to break the commandments of God, and that upon pretence of godlinesse, was inexcusable. Thus he lays a greater crime to their charge, to stop their mouths.

by your tradition] Or, for your tradition.

Matthew 15:4

Honour thy father and mother] Exodus 20:12. Deuteronomy 5:16. By honour, is meant all kinde of dutie which children owe to their parents.

he that curseth father or mother] Exodus 21:17. Leviticus 20:9. Proverbs 20:20.

let him die the death] Our Saviour instances in a weighty precept, the breach whereof was death, to shew their sin to be the greater.

Matthew 15:5

It is a gift] Mark 7. 11, 12. Yet teach, that a man may vow to give all he hath to God, although he have poor parents to relieve; and, after that, he need not, nay, he ought not to relieve them: or, to say to their parents, That which I have offered to God, will do you as much good, as if I had given it you.

by me] Gr. out of me: that is, out of my estate.

Matthew 15:6

And honour not] Or, Though he honour not. For they are Christs charge, not the Pharisees words. So this particle is used, Luke 18. 7.

of none effect] Neglected, as if it were of no force. They did not deny it to be a commandment, but freed children from obeying it.

Matthew 15:7

Ye hypocrites] He condemns them for hypocrisie and superstition, because they made the kingdom of God to stand in outward things.

prophesie of you] Not of them in particular, but of all hypocrites in generall, such as they were.

Matthew 15:8

This people] Isaiah 29:13.

Matthew 15:9

teaching for doctrines the commandments of men] Teaching their disciples to keep their precepts, though they break Gods to do it.

Matthew 15:10

And he called the multitude] Mark 7:14. He lets go the carping Pharisees, and labours to inform the people, that might be offended at the fact of his disciples, or corrupted by the false doctrine of the Pharisees.

Hear and understand] We must at all times open our ears and hearts to receive Gods word: but this preface is here used, because men are not easily taken off from old traditions.

Matthew 15:11

Not that which goeth into the mouth] Your meat doth not hurt your soul, though your hands be foul; but your evil words and thoughts do.

Matthew 15:12

Knowest thou] We see in their countenances, and hear it by their words. It is certain. See Exodus 10:7. 2 Kings 2. 3, 5.

that the Pharisees were offended] Alienated from thee, as from one who had preached some impious doctrine, John 6:60; John 6:66.

after they heard this saying] Or, when they heard, as Ephesians 1:13.

Matthew 15:13

Every plant, &c.] John 15:2. All doctrines, or traditions, or persons.

shall be rooted up] Shall come to nothing. Or, if it be understood of doctrine, the sense may be, It ought to be rooted out, by bringing men to the knowledge of the truth. This agrees best with the scope of the place.

Matthew 15:14

Let them alone] If they will not be reformed, or better informed, let us take no further care for them, but seek to inform such as are misled by them, lest they perish with them. Or, do not ye hearken to them, lest, like blinde guides, they lead you blindfold to hell with them.

they be blinde leaders of the blinde] Luke 6:39.

Matthew 15:15

Then answered Peter] Mark 7:17.

this parable] That sage sentence, v. 11. See chap. 13. 3.

Matthew 15:16

Are ye also yet without understanding?] No marvell if others understand me not, when ye, who converse with me, do it not.

Matthew 15:17

whatsoever entreth in at the mouth] He doth not say, All, but, Whatsoever; that is, all kindes of meat: for of every kinde some remains. Our meat comes not into our heart, where sin is hatched; nay, nature it self keeps nothing but what is pure for nourishment, it sends away the rest: and therefore our meat cannot defile us.

Matthew 15:18

which proceed out of the mouth] Not naturall things, as theume and spittle; but such ill thoughts, as coming from the heart, are by the mouth spoken, or commanded to be executed.

Matthew 15:19

For out of the heart] Genesis 6:5. and 8. 21.

proceed evil thoughts] The Jews, misled by the Pharisees, thought these to be no sins, Matth. 5. 21, 22, 27, 28. these therefore are put first, to shew, all sins, even in thought onely, defile, as well as in act.

which defile a man] Make him guilty of sin before God.

Matthew 15:21

Then Jesus went thence] Mark 7:24.

the coasts of Tyre and Sidon] Which bordered on Tyre and Sidon: that is, in that quarter where Palestina bendeth toward Phenice, and the sea of Syria.

Matthew 15:22

of Canaan] Of the stock of the Canaanites, which dwelt in Phoenicia, neer the sea, Numbers 13:29. Such were the Zidonians, Judg. 1. 31.

Have mercy on me] She counts her daughters misery her own; so strong was her motherly affection.

thou son of David] Thou that art the expected Messias, of the seed of David.

Matthew 15:23

he answered her not a word] Christ, when he stops his ears against the prayers of his saints, doth it for his glory, their profit, and the good of others.

for she crieth after us] They plead for her, not out of charity, but to be freed from her importunity, Luke 18:5.

Matthew 15:24

I am not sent, &c.] Chap. 10. 6. and 9. 36. To whom the promise was especially made, Romans 9:4. and to whom he was first to be revealed, Acts 3:26. and Acts 13:46. and with whom alone he did personally converse in his ministery, Romans 15:8.

of the house of Israel] Of the people of Israel, which was divided into tribes; but all those tribes came out of Jacobs house, who was called, Israel.

Matthew 15:25

worshipped him] She shewed her humility by her gestures; and the constancy of her faith, by renewing her petition.

Matthew 15:26

It is not meet] Before, he would not vouchsafe her any answer, v. 23. he gave her a milde one, v. 24. now he gives her a harsh deniall, with disgracefull terms, to try her yet further.

the childrens bread] I must work wonders for the Jews, the children of God, not for cursed Canaanites, that are as dogs before him.

Matthew 15:27

Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crums] Or, Truth Lord: for even the whelps eat of the crums. There is enough that falls from the table, to feed the whelps: the bread need not be cast to them. Thy power and mercy is so great, that the healing my daughter can be no wrong to the Jews.

Matthew 15:28

great is thy saith] He commends her faith, because that was the ground of her constancy in her suit.

even as thou wilt] She intimated her daughters misery, but had not made her petition in particular, v. 22. Now he bids her be her own chooser. God will not deny such as are constant and fervent in prayer, chap. 9. 29.

Matthew 15:29

And Jesus departed] Mark 7:31.

the sea of Galilee] Christ ceaseth not to be beneficiall, even there where he is contemned.

Matthew 15:30

And great multitudes came] Isa. 35. 5, 6.

having with them those that were lame] By disease, or inward and inbred weaknesse. This shews their great charity and pains, that would bring these up the mountain to be healed, verse 29.

maimed] The word here used signifies properly and primarily, persons dismembred, such as have lost some limb. It seems here rather to signifie, such as by some externall casualty, wound, or hurt, have lost the use onely of some of their limbs; the nerves and ligaments being cut asunder, or shrunk: for we read not of any to whom our Saviour restored such members as formerly they had lost; which yet he was able to do, if he had pleased.

cast them down at Jesus seet] Like sick lambs before the shepherd. See their humility and faith! They say nothing, but onely lay them before him, not doubting but he would heal them.

Matthew 15:31

the multitude wondered] Because these things exceed the power of nature and art; neither had they seen the like before.

they glorified the God of Israel] They were far better then the Pharisees, who attributed Christs miracles to Satan, Matthew 12:24.

Matthew 15:32

Then Jesus called his disciples] Mark 8:1. See also, chap. 14. 22. where the like miracle was wrought. By the following miracle Christ sheweth, that he will never be wanting to them that follow him, no, not in the wildernesse.

they continue with me now three days] If they brought any food with them, it is done ere now; neither have they gone from me to buy more.

I will not send them away fasting] Or, I am not willing to send them away fasting. He shewed his affection in these words, rather then his resolution, as chap. 8. 2, 3. See Mark 8:3.

Matthew 15:33

Whence should we have so much bread, &c.] Or, shall we have. It seems they had forgot the former miracle, chap. 14, where our Saviour fed a greater number with fewer loaves and fishes, and more was left. See v. 34, 37, 38.

in the wildernesse, &c.] The place is unfit: no food is here to be sold to feed a far lesse number. See the like distrustfulnesse in Moses, Numbers 11:21-22.

Matthew 15:34

How many leaves have you?] He knew before; but he asketh, that they might see the greatnesse of the miracle the more clearly, taking notice what they had before, and what was left.

Matthew 15:35

to sit down on the ground] That they might expect resection from him, and be the more attentive to the miracle,

Matthew 15:36

he took the seven loaves] In sight of the people, that they might see there were no more.

and brake them] That they might the better be distributed.

and gave to his disciples] That they might see that done in their hands, which they thought impossible, 2 Kings 7:2.

Matthew 15:37

of the broken meat] See chap. 14. 20.

seven baskets full] It was a kinde of vessel wrought with twigs, of common use among the Jews. Lesse was left now then in chap. 14. unlesse the baskets were bigger; for they are two severall Greek words. As also, chap. 16. 9, 10.

Matthew 15:39

of Magdala] Whence some think Mary Magdalen had her name.