Matthew 15

1-20. See Mark vii., and notes.

5. But ye say, etc.** Rather, “Whoever shall say to his father or mother, That by which thou mightest have derived benefit from me is a gift” [consecrated to God]: cp. Mark vii. 11, 12. This law was bad in principle; for it allowed religious gifts to interfere with the discharge of other obligations; but in practice it became still worse; because it was held that anything so consecrated might still be used for the man’s own advantage, though it was sacrilege to apply it to the good of others.

11. Not that which goeth into the mouth, etc.** See notes on Mark vii. 14-19.

12 offended. “Shocked” (Weymouth).

15 this parable. The figurative expression in ver. 11. That, after all their previous lessons, the

21 coasts. That is, “parts”; so xvi. 13; in ver. 22 “borders” (R.V.).

22 a woman of Canaan. The Phoenicians, a branch of the Canaanites (see Gen. x. 15, 19), had received among them a large admixture of Greeks as conquerors and settlers; and they now belonged to the Roman province of Syria. Hence this woman is called a Canaanite, a Greek, and a Symphœnician: see Mark vii. 26.

24 of the house of Israel. See x. 5, 6 (Ezek. xxxiv. 6). Such was the purpose of our Lord’s personal ministry; yet even this was occasionally broken by such incidents as this. The fountain sealed sometimes broke its banks, in token of the rich flood of grace which should follow (Alford).

26 dogs (“the little dogs”).

27. Truth, Lord; yet the dogs, etc. Rather, as R.V., “Yea, Lord, for even the dogs eat,” etc. Saidst Thou “dogs”? I accept the name, for the dogs, too, have their portion of the meat, “the crumbs which fall” from the table. It is enough for me if I have but their portion.

29 nigh unto the sea of Galilee. Into the district of Decapolis, on the eastern side of the lake, where He cured a deaf man (Mark vii. 31-37).

a mountain. Rather, as R.V., “the mountain”; the highland district.

32. I will not. R.V. more exactly, “I would not,” i.e., “I am unwilling to do so.”

33. Whence . . . so much bread. The disciples may have forgotten the former miracle (xiv. 15-21; ep. xvi. 9, 10), or perhaps they wondered whether it would be repeated.

37 broken meat. Rather, “broken pieces” (R.V.); i.e., not the crumbs, but the portions prepared for eating.

seven baskets. The Greek word for “basket,” used by both evangelists who record this miracle, differs from that used by all four in narrating the former feeding of a multitude. The word used here means a pannier or hamper, sometimes large enough to hold a man; as in Acts ix. 25; the only other place in the N.T. where the same Greek word is used.

38 four thousand men. The people were fewer, and the loaves were more upon this occasion, than upon the former.

39 the coasts of Magdala. Magdala (or Magadan: see var. read.) and Dalmanutha (Mark viii. 10) were probably neighbouring villages on the south-east of the Lake.