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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 15:20

Thus Jesus sums up what has been said, and recalls the circumstance which led to the discourse, emphatically repeating his judgment on the Pharisaical gloss. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 15:15-20

See also Mark 7:17-23.Then answered Peter, and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable - See the notes at Matthew 13:3. The word “parable” sometimes means a dark or obscure saying, Psalms 78:2. Peter meant, “Explain to us more fully this obscure and novel doctrine.” To us, now, it is plain; to the disciples, just coming out of Judaism, the doctrine of Jesus was obscure. Mark says that the disciples asked him. There is no contradiction. The question was put by Peter in the name of the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 15:15-20

Matthew 15:15-20. Peter said, Declare unto us this parable That is, the sentence, maxim, or proverb, mentioned Matthew 15:11. Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth the man, &c. A declaration very intelligible, and evidently true, and yet appearing to the disciples obscure, and needing explanation, or doubtful, and wanting confirmation. The reason is evident: it did not agree with the notions of religion which they had formerly imbibed. And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 15:1-20

69. Teaching about cleansing (Matthew 15:1-20; Mark 7:1-23)A common practice of the Jews in Jesus’ time was the ceremonial washing of hands. They believed that those who came in contact with ‘unclean’ people or things had to pour water over their hands to cleanse themselves. This was not a command of the law of Moses but a tradition of the Pharisees (Mark 7:1-5). Jesus argued that such traditions not only caused people to misunderstand the law, but stopped them from doing the more important... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 15:20

Matthew 15:20. These are the things which defile a man— Thus our Lord defended his disciples by a beautiful chain of reasoning, wherein he has shewn the true nature of actions, and loaded with perpetual infamy those Jewish teachers and all their posterity who should imitate them; the main strokes of whose characters are, that by their frivolous superstitions they weaken and sometimes destroy the eternal and immutable rules of righteousness. It may be proper just to observe, that St. Matthew... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 15:20

20. These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man—Thus does our Lord sum up this whole searching discourse. :-. THE WOMAN OF CANAAN AND HER DAUGHTER. For the exposition, see on :-. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 15:1-20

4. The opposition of the Pharisees and scribes 15:1-20 (cf. Mark 7:1-23; John 7:1)Matthew recorded another round of opposition, withdrawal and disciple training, and public ministry (ch. 15). This is his last substantial group of events in Jesus’ Galilean ministry. The writer’s repetition of this pattern highlights the chief features of this stage of Jesus’ ministry. This second round also reveals growth in each area of ministry. There is greater opposition, greater faith, and greater help for... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 15:10-20

Jesus’ preaching and teaching about man’s heart 15:10-20 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 15:17-20

Jesus contrasted tangible food with intangible thoughts. Matthew’s list of the heart’s products follows the order of the Ten Commandments essentially. Jesus’ point was this: what a person is determines what he or she does and says (cf. Matthew 12:34-35; Romans 14:14; Romans 14:17; 1 Corinthians 8:8; Hebrews 9:10). Note that Jesus presupposed the biblical revelation that the heart (the seat of thought and will) is evil (cf. Matthew 7:11). True religion must deal with people’s basic nature and... read more

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