Matthew 15

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:5

Verse 5 5.But you say, etc. The mode of expression is defective, and is more fully exhibited by Mark, who adds, you suffer them not to do anything more to their father or to their mother The meaning is, that the scribes were altogether wrong in acquitting those persons who fail to perform their duties to their parents, provided that this deficiency be supplied, on their part, by a voluntary sacrifice, which might have been omitted without offending God. For we must not understand Christ’s words... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:7

Verse 7 7.Well hath Isaiah prophesied concerning you. Our Lord now proceeds farther; for he decides on the question in hand, which he divides into two clauses. The first is, that they relied on outward ceremonies alone, and set no value on true holiness, which consists in sincere uprightness of heart; and the second is, that they worshipped God in a wrong way, according to their own fancy. Now though his reproof of pretended and hypocritical holiness appears hitherto to be restricted to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:9

Verse 9 9.But in vain do they worship me The words of the prophet run literally thus: their fear toward me has been taught by the precept of men. But Christ has faithfully and accurately given the meaning, that in vain is God worshipped, when the will of men is substituted in the room of doctrine. By these words, all kinds of will-worship, ( ἐθελοθζησκεία,) as Paul calls it, ( Colossians 2:23,) are plainly condemned. For, as we have said, since God chooses to be worshipped in no other way than... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:10

Verse 10 Matthew 15:10.And having called the multitudes to him. Here Christ turns (404) to those who are ready to receive instruction, and explains more fully the truth at which he had formerly glanced, that the kingdom of God does not consist in meat and drink, as Paul also teaches us, (Romans 14:17;) for, since outward things are by nature pure, the use of them is free and pure, and uncleanness is not contracted from the good creatures of God. It is therefore a general statement, that... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:13

Verse 13 13.Every plant. As the indifferent success of the doctrine had wounded their weak minds, Christ intended to remedy this evil. Now the remedy which he proposes is, that good men ought not to be distressed, or entertain less reverence for the doctrine, though to many it be an occasion of death. It is a mistaken view of this passage which some have adopted, that all the inventions of men, and every thing that has not proceeded from the mouth of God, must be rooted up and perish; for it... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:14

Verse 14 14.Let them alone. He sets them aside as unworthy of notice, and concludes that the offense which they take ought not to give us much uneasiness. Hence has arisen the distinction, of which we hear so much, about avoiding offenses, that we ought to beware of offending the weak, but if any obstinate and malicious person take offense, we ought not to be uneasy; for, if we determined to satisfy all obstinate people, we must bury Christ, who is the stone of offense, (1 Peter 2:8.) Weak... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:15

Verse 15 Matthew 15:15.And Peter answering said. As the disciples betray excessive ignorance, Christ justly reproves and upbraids them for being still void of understanding, and yet does not fail to act as their teacher. What Matthew ascribes in a peculiar manner to Peter is related by Mark, in the same sense, as a question put by them all; and this is evident from Christ’s reply, in which he reproves the ignorance, not of Peter only, but of all of them alike. The general meaning is, that men... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:19

Verse 19 19.For out of the heart proceed wicked thoughts Hence we infer that the word mouth, as I have mentioned, was used by Christ in a former verse by way of allusion to the context; for now he makes no mention of the mouth, but merely says that out of the heart of man proceeds all that is sinful and that corrupts by its pollution. Mark differs from Matthew in this respect, that he gives a larger catalogue of sins, such as lusts, or irregular desires. The Greek word ( πλεονεξίαι) is by some... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:20

Verse 20 And pollute the man. Instead of the verb pollute, the Greek term is κοινοῖ, make common; as Mark, a little before, ( Mark 7:2,) used the phrase, κοιναῖς χερσὶ, with common hands, for with unclean hands. (412) It is a Hebrew phrase; (413) for, since God had set apart the Jews on the condition that they should separate themselves from all the pollutions of the Gentiles, everything that was inconsistent with this holiness was called common, that is, profane. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:21

Verse 21 In this miracle we are informed in what manner the grace of Christ began to flow to the Gentiles; for, though the full time was not yet come when Christ would make himself known to the whole world, yet he intended to give some early manifestations of the common mercy which was at length offered indiscriminately to Jews and Gentiles after his resurrection. A remarkable picture of faith is presented to us in the woman of Canaan, for the purpose of instructing us by means of comparison,... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:14

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:15

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:19

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:20

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:21

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