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Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Matthew 15:1-9

God’s Truth above Men’s Teaching Matthew 15:1-9 The legal washing of hands before eating was especially sacred in the eyes of the Pharisees. “He who does not wash His hands before eating,” says the Talmud, “is as bad as a murderer.” Jesus had no sympathy with a system that reduced religion to a slavery to outward forms. His new kingdom was in the heart, in loving sonship to God, and in faith. All outward observances had value only as expressions of the inner spirit. He waived aside their... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Matthew 15:1-39

The question was not of cleanliness, but of ritual. This washing of hands to remove imaginary evil was a part of the tradition of the elders. Against the binding of such burdens on men our Lord passionately protests. 'The commandment of God" (verse Mat 15:3 ). This is the one and only burden that men ought to bear, and this fact our Lord proceeded to enforce by illustration and teaching. Then going into Tyre and Sidon, we have one of the sweetest stories of them all-the mother heart carrying... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:1

‘Then there come to Jesus from Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes, saying,’ Pharisees and Scribes (learned Teachers of the Law) now come down from Jerusalem to check on Jesus’ activities. It was in fact the responsibility of the Jerusalem Sanhedrin to check up on all who claimed to teach. Now it was Jesus’ turn. Their opposition would bring out the difference between what He had brought and what they could offer. The adding of the words ‘from Jerusalem’ here heightens the sense of the opposition.... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:1-9

The Challenge From Jerusalem (15:1-9). In chapters 11-12, after the discourse in chapter 10, Matthew had begun by drawing attention to the imprisonment of John (Matthew 11:2), spoke of the opposition of he Pharisees (Matthew 12:1-14), and led on to the approach of the Scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 12:38), now after the discourse in chapter 13 he is repeating the pattern, but with an increase in intensity. He first describes the imprisonment and death of John in Matthew 14:1-12, and he now... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:1-39

Jesus Is Confirmed As The Son of God, Begins To Establish His New Congregation, Reaches Out To Gentiles, Is Acknowledged As Messiah By His Disciples, and Reveals His Inherent Glory (13:53-17:27). The advance of the Kingly Rule of Heaven leading up to the final consummation having been made clear by His parables Jesus is now confirmed as the Son of God (Matthew 14:33; Matthew 16:16; Matthew 18:26) and begins to establish a new open community (Matthew 14:13-21; Matthew 15:32-39; Matthew 16:18;... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:1-20

Matthew 15:1-Proverbs : . The Washing of Hands and the Traditions of the Elders ( Mark 7:1-Isaiah : *).— Mt. is again briefer than Mk. He omits the parenthetical explanation Mark 7:3 f. and the technical term “ Corban,” turns the statement of Mark 7:9 into a question ( Matthew 15:3), and puts the quotation from Isaiah as a climax after the “ Corban” passage. He also substitutes “ God” ( Matthew 15:4) for “ Moses” ( Mark 7:10) to heighten the antithesis with “ But you say” ( Matthew 15:5),... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Matthew 15:1-2

Mark relates this piece of history more largely, Mark 7:1-5, Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain, of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be,... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Matthew 15:1-20

CRITICAL NOTESMatthew 15:1. Of Jerusalem.—From Jerusalem (see R.V.). Probably a deputation from the Sanhedrin sent expressly to watch Him.Matthew 15:2. Transgress the tradition.—The Jews attached greater value to tradition than even to the written law, appealing in support of it to Deuteronomy 4:14; Deuteronomy 17:10 (Meyer). Wash not their hands.—The custom of washing the hands before a meal was not only a cleanly and desirable one, but was rendered absolutely necessary by the habits of the... read more

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - Matthew 15:1-39

Chapter 15Then came to Jesus Scribes and Pharisees, which were from Jerusalem ( Matthew 15:1 ),Hey, these guys had come a long way to challenge Him. They came all the way from Jerusalem clear up to Galilee, which was about a journey of over a week from Jerusalem to Galilee. So they came up to the Galilee and they said,Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? ( Matthew 15:2 )Now the Jews of course had the written law. But on top of the written law, they had developed the... read more

Joseph Sutcliffe

Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 15:1-39

Matthew 15:2 . Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? The cabala, or unwritten law, was counted by the pharisees of equal authority with the law itself. Rabbi Aquiba says, he who eats with hands unwashed is worthy of death! Rabbi Jose is rather more mild, in saying, the sin is the same as though he cohabited illicitly with a woman! They alleged in defence of those censures, that a man might have touched unawares something unclean. Surely the Lord justly called those... read more

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