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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 15:10-20

Christ having proved that the disciples, in eating with unwashen hands, were not to be blamed, as transgressing the traditions and injunctions of the elders, comes here to show that they were not to be blamed, as having done any thing that was in itself evil. In the former part of his discourse he overturned the authority of the law, and in this the reason of it. Observe, I. The solemn introduction to this discourse (Matt. 15:10); He called the multitude. They were withdrawn while Christ... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 15:10-20

15:10-20 Jesus called the crowd and said to them: "Listen and understand. It is not that which goes into the mouth which defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, that defiles a man." Then his disciples came to him and said, "Do you know that when the Pharisees heard your saying, they were shocked by it?" He answered: "Every plant which my heavenly Father did not plant will be rooted up. Let them be. They are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both of them will fall into the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 15:18

But those things which proceed out of the mouth ,.... Meaning not material things, as spittle, vomit, &c.; but, as it follows, which come forth from the heart : are first conceived and formed there, and then come forth from thence, and are expressed by the mouth; as all idle words, foolish talking, filthy jesting, unsavoury communication, and every word that is rotten and corrupt, or which is done in the life and conversation; and they defile the man : the heart is the corrupt... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 15:1-20

Discourse concerning ceremonial pollution. ( Mark 7:1-23 .) read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 15:1-20

Unwashen hands. I. CONTROVERSY WITH SCRIBES AND PHARISEES . 1 . They were of Jerusalem. It seems that a deputation had been sent by the leading inert in Jerusalem. The great discourse related in John 6:1-71 . had probably been reported to them; they had heard that the scribes and Pharisees of Galilee were unable to cope with our Lord; and they now sent some of their own body to watch him and to find opportunity for accusing him. Mark the reception which he met with on... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 15:1-20

On hand washing. The omission with which the Pharisees here charge the disciples was that of a ceremonial observance on which they laid immense stress. Certain washings for purification had been commanded by the Law of Moses, but to these countless additions of a minute and vexatious kind had been added by the rabbis. Even when no defilement had been consciously contracted, the washings must be observed because, unwittingly, a man might touch what would defile him. Wherever in religion such... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 15:1-20

Casuistry reproved. The fame of the miracles and ministry of Jesus passed from Galilee to Jerusalem, whence came certain Pharisees and scribes, who were probably sent to watch him, and find matter of accusation against him (cf. Matthew 22:15 , Matthew 22:16 ). "Jerusalem—the high school of hypocrisy. Rabbi Nathan says, 'If the hypocrites were divided into ten parts, nine would be found in Jerusalem, and one in the world beside'" (Stier). These zealots set up the traditions of the elders... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 15:11-20

The secret of human defilement. It is quite possible to exaggerate in presenting the teachings of our Lord in these verses. We do so if we make too absolute the distinction between what goes into a man and what comes out of a man. Our Lord's illustration needs to be kept within its natural and proper limits. The Pharisees had objected to the disciples eating their bread with unwashen hands, their notion being that something causing ceremonial defilement might be upon their hands, and this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 15:18

Those things. He does not assert that everything which issues from a man's mouth defiles him; for, as was said above on Matthew 15:11 , many good things may come from a man's mouth; but he means that the evil to which he gives utterance is fraught with pollution to his moral nature. From the heart. The heart stands for soul, mind, spirit, will, the whole inner man, that which makes him what he is, a conscious, intelligent, responsible being. Hence are attributed to it not only words, but... 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

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