Matthew 15

Matthew 15:2

Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

Thou knowest that we have a tradition from our late elders, though no law of God for it, that, for the fear of many incident pollutions, we should, both before and in our meals, wash often: why do thy disciples violate and neglect this good order, set by our wise elders in their repast?

Matthew 15:3

But he answered and said unto them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

But he answered and said unto them; Ye are apt to take exceptions at my disciples for transgressing the traditions of men, but, in the mean time, ye yourselves make no conscience of transgressing the commandments of God, by these your vain and ill grounded traditions. XV. 5, 6. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or

Matthew 15:9

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

In vain do they worship me, while, instead of my holy laws, which only are able to bind the conscience, they obtrude upon men the devices of their own brains; and require the strict observation thereof, with the neglect of God’s precepts.

Matthew 15:11

Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

The Scribes and Pharisees have found fault with my disciples, for eating with unwashen hands; but know ye, that the soul of a man is not polluted with that, which he puts into his mouth: the creatures of God are in their nature good, and these outward foulnesses of the hand have no moral guilt in them; but those things, which defile a man, are the wickednesses that come forth from an unclean heart, and so break forth into the expressions of the mouth and hand. See verses 17, 18, 19.

Matthew 15:23

Send her away; for she crieth after us.

Master, thou art not wont to repel importunate suitors: be pleased to grant her request; for she crieth after us.

Matthew 15:26

But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.

The Jews are the select family of God, and the children of the house; the Gentiles are but as dogs, despised and hated, as those that are without God in the world: it is not meet, to communicate those favours and blessings, which I have intended to the children of my Church, to these contemptible aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.

Matthew 15:27

Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

O Saviour, I do not expostulate with thee for this so hard appellation: I do meekly yield myself such as thou hast termed me; but, if I be a dog, give me at least the common privilege of this despised creature. I require not a whole morsel; I desire but a crumb of thy favour: the dogs are allowed to lick the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table; vouchsafe me but this small offal of thy mercy, and it shall be enough.