Matthew 15

Traditions and Commandments

1 e Then Pharisees and f scribes came to Jesus f from Jerusalem and said, 2 g "Why do your disciples break h the tradition of the elders? j For they do not wash their hands when they eat." 3 He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, k 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, l 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.' 5 But you say, 'If anyone tells his father or his mother, "What you would have gained from me is given to God," 1 6 he need not honor his father.' So for the sake of your tradition you have m made void the word 2 of God. 7 n You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:

8 o "'This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
9 in vain do they worship me,
teaching as p doctrines the commandments of men.'"

What Defiles a Person

10 And he called the people to him and said to them, q "Hear and understand: 11 r it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person." 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were s offended when they heard this saying?" 13 He answered, t "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted u will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; v they are blind guides. 3 And w if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." 15 But Peter said to him, x "Explain the parable to us." 16 And he said, y "Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that z whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 4 18 But a what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come b evil thoughts, c murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, d slander. 20 e These are what defile a person. But f to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone."

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman

21 g And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, h a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, i "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon." 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, j "Send her away, for she is crying out after us." 24 He answered, k "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25 But she came and l knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." 26 And he answered, "It is not right to take the children's bread and m throw it to the dogs." 27 She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat n the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." 28 Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, o great is your faith! p Be it done for you as you desire." q And her daughter was p healed instantly. 5

Jesus Heals Many

29 r Jesus went on from there and walked s beside the Sea of Galilee. And he t went up on the mountain and sat down there. 30 And great crowds came to him, bringing with them u the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, 31 v so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, w the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And x they glorified y the God of Israel.

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

32 z Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, a "I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way." 33 And the disciples said to him, "Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?" 34 And Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, b "Seven, and a few small fish." 35 And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and c having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37 And d they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 38 Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 And after sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of e Magadan.

  1. Cross References
    Matthew 15:1 - 20
    Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said.
    Mark 7:1 - 23
    Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem.
  2. Cross References
    Mark 3:22
    And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, "He is possessed by Beelzebul," and "by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.
  3. Cross References
    Mark 3:22
    And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, "He is possessed by Beelzebul," and "by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.
  4. Cross References
    Matthew 15:1 - 20
    Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said.
    Mark 7:1 - 23
    Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem.
  5. Cross References
    Matthew 9:11
    And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?
  6. Cross References
    Galatians 1:14
    And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.
    Colossians 2:8
    See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
  7. Cross References
    Luke 11:38
    The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner.
  8. Cross References
    Exodus 20:12
    Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
  9. Cross References
    Exodus 21:17
    Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.
  10. Cross References
    Exodus 20:12
    Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
  11. Cross References
    Exodus 21:17
    Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.
  12. Cross References
    Galatians 3:17
    This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void.
    Romans 2:23
    You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.
  13. Cross References
    Matthew 23:13
    But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.
  14. Cross References
    Isaiah 29:13
    And the Lord said: "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men.
    Ezekiel 33:31
    And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.
  15. Cross References
    Isaiah 29:13
    And the Lord said: "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men.
  16. Cross References
    Colossians 2:22
    ( referring to things that all perish as they are used) - according to human precepts and teachings?
    Titus 1:14
    Not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.
  17. Cross References
    Matthew 13:51
    "Have you understood all these things?" They said to him, "Yes."
  18. Cross References
    Acts 10:14 - 15
    But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.
  19. Cross References
    Matthew 13:57
    And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.
    Luke 7:23
    And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.
  20. Cross References
    Isaiah 60:21
    Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified.
    Isaiah 61:3
    To grant to those who mourn in Zion - to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
    John 15:1 - 2
    I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
    1 Corinthians 3:9
    For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.
  21. Cross References
    Jude 1:12
    These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted.
  22. Cross References
    Matthew 23:16
    "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.'
    Matthew 23:24
    You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!
    Isaiah 56:10
    His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs; they cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.
    Malachi 2:8
    But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts.
  23. Cross References
    Luke 6:39
    He also told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?
  24. Cross References
    Matthew 13:36
    Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.
  25. Cross References
    Matthew 16:9
    Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?
  26. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 6:13
    Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food" - and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
  27. Cross References
    Matthew 12:34
    You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
    James 3:6
    And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
  28. Cross References
    James 2:4
    Have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
  29. Cross References
    Matthew 5:22
    But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.
    Matthew 5:28
    But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
    Exodus 20:13 - 16
    You shall not murder.
  30. Cross References
    Ephesians 4:31
    Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
    Colossians 3:8
    But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
    1 Timothy 6:4
    He is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions.
  31. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 6:9 - 10
    Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality.
  32. Cross References
    Mark 7:2
    They saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed.
    Mark 7:5
    And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?
  33. Cross References
    Matthew 15:21 - 28
    And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.
    Mark 7:24 - 30
    And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden.
  34. Cross References
    Matthew 15:21 - 28
    And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.
    Mark 7:24 - 30
    And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden.
  35. Cross References
    Genesis 10:15
    Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn and Heth.
    Genesis 10:19
    And the territory of the Canaanites extended from Sidon in the direction of Gerar as far as Gaza, and in the direction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.
    Judges 1:30 - 33
    Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, or the inhabitants of Nahalol, so the Canaanites lived among them, but became subject to forced labor.
  36. Cross References
    Matthew 9:27
    And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David.
  37. Cross References
    Matthew 14:15
    Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.
  38. Cross References
    Romans 15:8
    For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs.
    Matthew 10:5 - 6
    These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans.
  39. Cross References
    Matthew 8:2
    And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.
  40. Cross References
    Matthew 7:6
    Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
  41. Cross References
    Luke 16:21
    Who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
  42. Cross References
    Matthew 9:2
    And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.
  43. Cross References
    Matthew 8:13
    And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; let it be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.
  44. Cross References
    Matthew 8:13
    And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; let it be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.
  45. Cross References
    Matthew 9:22
    Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well.
    Matthew 17:18
    And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.
    John 4:52 - 53
    So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.
  46. Cross References
    Matthew 15:29 - 31
    Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there.
    Mark 7:31 - 37
    Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis.
  47. Cross References
    Matthew 4:18
    While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
    John 6:1
    After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.
  48. Cross References
    Matthew 5:1
    Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
  49. Cross References
    Matthew 11:5
    The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
  50. Cross References
    Matthew 9:33
    And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel.
  51. Cross References
    Matthew 18:8
    And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.
    Mark 9:43
    And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.
  52. Cross References
    Matthew 9:8
    When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
  53. Cross References
    Isaiah 29:23
    For when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in his midst, they will sanctify my name; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
    Luke 1:68
    Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people
    Acts 13:17
    The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it.
  54. Cross References
    Matthew 15:32 - 39
    Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.
    Mark 8:1 - 10
    In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them.
    Matthew 14:14 - 21
    When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
  55. Cross References
    Matthew 9:36
    When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
  56. Cross References
    Matthew 15:32 - 39
    Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.
    Mark 8:1 - 10
    In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them.
  57. Cross References
    Matthew 16:10
    Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?
  58. Cross References
    Matthew 26:27
    And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks...
    Mark 14:23
    And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks...
    Luke 22:17
    And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks...
    Luke 22:19
    And he took bread, and when he had given thanks...
    John 6:11
    Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had giv...
    John 6:23
    Other boats from Tiberias came near the place w...
    Acts 27:35
    And when he had said these things, he took brea...
    Romans 14:6
    The one who observes the day, observes it in ho...
    1 Corinthians 10:30
    If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denoun...
    1 Corinthians 11:24
    And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and ...
    1 Corinthians 14:16
    Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit,...
    1 Timothy 4:3 - 4
    Who forbid marriage and require abstinence from...
  59. Cross References
    2 Kings 4:42 - 44
    A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And Elisha said, "Give to the men, that they may eat.
  60. Cross References
    Mark 8:10
    And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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