These Pharisees and scribes came from Jerusalem to question Jesus. They appear to have had more official authority than the local Galilean religious leaders who opposed Jesus earlier. Jesus’ great popularity makes such a delegation understandable to the reader. read more
The charge and Jesus’ response 15:1-9 read more
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
The Traditions of the Elders. The Canaanitish Woman. Feeding the Four Thousand1-20. Unwashed hands and the traditions of the elders (Mark 7:1). In this important controversy Jesus defined His position, (1) towards rabbinical traditions about the Law; (2) towards the Law itself. The first part of our Lord’s discourse (Matthew 15:3-9) is addressed to the Pharisees. In it He admits (or at least does not dispute) the binding character of the Law itself, but denies the authority of rabbinical... read more
XV.(1) Scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem.—The presence of these actors on the scene is every way significant. They had been prominent in like accusations. It was by them that our Lord had been accused of blasphemy in forgiving sins (Matthew 9:3), of eating and drinking with publicans and sinners (Matthew 9:11), of disregarding fasts (Matthew 9:14), of casting out devils by Beelzebub (Matthew 12:24), of Sabbath-breaking (Matthew 12:2; Matthew 12:10). It was, we may believe, their... read more
Matthew 15:13 If I had not had a hope fixed in me that this Cause and Business was of God, I would many years ago have run from it If it be of God, He will bear it up. If it be of man, it will tumble; as everything that hath been of man since the world began hath done. And what are all our Histories, and other Tradition of Actions in former times, but God manifesting Himself, that He hath shaken, and tumbled down, and trampled upon, everything that He had not planted? Cromwell to the... read more
Chapter 12The Crisis in Galilee Matthew 14:1-36 - Matthew 15:1-39 - Matthew 16:1-12.THE lives of John and of Jesus, lived so far apart, and with so little intercommunication, have yet been interwoven in a remarkable way, the connection only appearing at the most critical times in the life of our Lord. This interweaving, strikingly anticipated in the incidents of the nativity as recorded by St. Luke, appears, not only at the time of our Saviour’s baptism and first introduction to His Messianic... read more
3. The Corruption of the Scribes and Pharisees; the Canaanitish Woman and Her Faith; the Multitudes Healed. CHAPTER 15 1. The Question of the Scribes and Pharisees.(Matthew 15:1-2 .) 2. His Answer. (Matthew 15:3-9 .) 3. The Multitude Called.( Matthew 15:10-11 .) 4. The Disciples Instructed.( Matthew 15:12-20 .) 5. The Canaanitish Woman. (Matthew 15:21-28 .) 6. The Multitudes Healed. (Matthew 15:29-31 .) This chapter introduces us more fully into the events which follow the rejection of... read more
15:1 {1} Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,(1) None commonly are more bold condemners of God, then they whom God has appointed keepers of his law. read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 15:1
1. Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem—or "from Jerusalem." Mark (Mark 7:1) says they "came from" it: a deputation probably sent from the capital expressly to watch Him. As He had not come to them at the last Passover, which they had reckoned on, they now come to Him. "And," says Mark (Mark 7:2; Mark 7:3), "when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen hands"—hands not ceremonially cleansed by washing—"they found fault.... read more