Matthew 15

Matthew 15:1

came = come.

scribes, &c. = the scribes. Note the four parties addressed in this chapter: (1) scribes, &c. from Jerusalem, verses: Matthew 15:1-9; (2) the multitudes, verses: Matthew 15:10, Matthew 15:11; (3) the disciples, verses: Matthew 15:12-14; (4) Peter, verses: Matthew 15:15-20.

Pharisees. See App-120. of = away from. Greek. apo.

Jerusalem. The seat of authority in these matters.

Matthew 15:2

transgress. Greek. parabaino. App-128.

the elders. Greek. presbuteroi. Always used in the Papyri officially, not of age (old men), but of communal officers and heathen priests.

wash not. To wash before eating is still a rigorous custom in Palestine. See App-136.

bread. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6, for all kinds of food.

Matthew 15:3

ye. Emphatic. Note the Figure of speech Anteisagoge.

also. Connect “also” with “ye”, not with “transgress”.

by = on account of. Greek. dia.

Matthew 15:4

commanded. Quoted from Exodus 20:12; Exodus 20:21. Exodus 20:17. App-117.

let him die the death = he shall surely die. Figure of speech Polyptoton. See Exodus 21:17. Leviticus 20:9. Deuteronomy 5:16; Deuteronomy 27:16. Proverbs 30:17.

Matthew 15:5

It is. Supply (“Be that”] instead of “It is”.

a gift = dedicated to God.

thou: i.e. the parent.

profited = helped.

by = of. Greek. ek.

me: i.e. the son.

Matthew 15:6

And = And [in consequence of this evasion]. not = you certainly do not. Greek. ou me = by no means, in no wise.

he shall be free. There is no Ellipsis here if it be supplied as in Matthew 15:8.

Matthew 15:7

Esaias = Isaiah. See App-79.

of = concerning. Greek. peri.

Matthew 15:8

This people. Quoted from Isaiah 29:13. See App-107 and App-117.

is far = keepeth far distant.

from = away from. Greek. apo. App-104.

Matthew 15:9

teaching for doctrines. Greek teaching teachings. Figure of speech Polyptoton.

Matthew 15:10

called = called to [Him].

the multitude. See note on “scribes”, Matthew 15:1.

Matthew 15:11

into. Greek. eis. App-104.

a = the.

out of. Greek. ek.

Matthew 15:12

His disciples. See note on “scribes”, Matthew 15:1.

offended = stumbled.

saying. Greek. logos. See note on Mark 9:32.

Matthew 15:13

Every plant. Implying the scribes, &c, by the Figure of speech Hypocatastaais. See note on “dogs”, Matthew 15:26, and on “leaven” (Matthew 16:6).

plant. Greek. phuteia. Occurs only here.

heavenly. Greek. ouranios. See note on Matthew 6:14.

Matthew 15:14

they be, &c. Figure of speech Paroemia. App-6.

if, &c.: i.e. experience will show it. App-118.

Matthew 15:15

Peter. See note on “scribes”, &c, Matthew 15:1.

Declare = Expound. See note on Matthew 13:36.

Matthew 15:16

yet = still. Greek. akmen. Occurs only here.

Matthew 15:17

in at = into. Greek. eis. App-104.

draught = sewer, or sink. Greek. aphedron, a Macedonian word.

Matthew 15:18

But those, &c. Figure of speech Epimone, verses: 18-20.

from = out of. Greek. ek, as in preceding clause,

Matthew 15:19

evil. Greek. poneros. App-128.

thoughts = reasonings.

false witness. Greek. pseudomarturia. Occurs only in Matthew (here, and Matthew 26:59).

Matthew 15:22

out of = from. Greek. apo.

the same = those.

coasts = borders.

Have mercy = Pity

Son Of David. The fourth of nine occurrences of this title (App-98). The woman (a “dog” of the Gentiles) had no claim on the “Son of David”. Hence the silence of the Lord.

grievously = miserably.

vexed with a devil = possessed by a demon; Greek. daimonizomai.

Matthew 15:23

But, &c. Because a Gentile had no claim on the Son of David. Figure of speech Accismus. App-6.

Matthew 15:25

worshipped Him = threw herself at His feet [and remained there]. Imperfect tense. Compare John 9:38. See App-137.

Lord, help me. This was a better plea, but there was no definition of the “me”, as with the publican: “me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13).

Matthew 15:26

meet = fair.

the children’s bread = the bread of the children, with emphasis on children. Figure of speech Enallage. App-6.

children’s. See App-108.

dogs = puppies, or little household dogs; this is true only of such. Dogs are not cared for (in the East) when grown. The Lord used the Figure of speech Hypocatastasis (App-6), implying that she was only a Gentile, and thus had still no claim even on that ground. Gentiles were known as “dogs” by the Jews, and despised as such (Matthew 7:6; 1 Samuel 17:43. 2 Samuel 3:8; 2 Samuel 9:8. 2 Kings 8:13. Philippians 1:3, Philippians 1:2).

Matthew 15:27

Truth = Yea.

yet = for even: assenting to the Lord’s words, while using them as an additional ground of her plea.

crumbs = scraps.

Matthew 15:28

answered and said = exclaimed and said. A Hebraism. See note on Deuteronomy 1:41.

O woman. Figure of speech Ecphonesis.

great is thy faith. Contrast the disciples (Matthew 16:8), where the same Figure of speech Hypocatastasis (App-6), is used, and ought to have been understood.

Matthew 15:29

nigh unto = beside. Greek. para. App-104.

a = the, as in Matthew 14:23.

sat down = was sitting down.

Matthew 15:30

others = differently affected. Greek. heteros. App-124.

at = beside. Greek. para.

Matthew 15:31

to speak = speaking.

to be whole = sound.

to walk = walking.

to see = seeing.

the God of Israel. See Isaiah 29:23.

Matthew 15:32

called = called to [Him].

on = upon. Greek. epi.

now = already.

three days = the third day. Observe, not “and nights”. See note on Matthew 12:40, and App-144and App-156.

nothing = not anything.

I will not = I am not willing. See App-102.

Matthew 15:33

we. Emphatic, as are the words which follow.

the wilderness = a desert place. These are emphatic also, in addition to “we”.

fill = satisfy.

Matthew 15:34

I am, &c. = I was.

but = except.

unto = to. Greek. eis. App-104.

lost. Because being without a shepherd. But see note on 1 Kings 12:17.

the house of Israel. Therefore it was still represented by those in the Land. See note on and compare Acts 2:14, Acts 2:22, Acts 2:36.

Matthew 15:35

sit down = recline.

Matthew 15:36

brake. See note on Matthew 14:19.

to = [gave] to. Supplying the Ellipsis from the preceding clause.

Matthew 15:37

broken meat = fragments, or crumbs.

baskets = large baskets. Greek. spuris. Compare Matthew 14:20. Acts 9:25. Our modern clothes-basket.

Matthew 15:39

took ship = entered into Greek. eis. the ship (mentioned above, in Matthew 14:22, &c).

Magdala. See App-169.