Matthew 15: What defiles a person, the Canaanite woman, and four thousand fed
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Greek. How to read a study
What happens?
Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem ask Jesus why his disciples break the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before they eat. Jesus answers them about God's commandment and their tradition, quotes Isaiah, and teaches the crowd and then his disciples what defiles a person. He goes to the region of Tyre and Sidon, where a Canaanite woman asks him for help for her daughter. Back by the Sea of Galilee he heals many people, and then he feeds four thousand men, besides women and children, with seven loaves and a few small fish.
Who is speaking?
No verse is in gold. The Pharisees and scribes speak in verse 2. Jesus speaks in verses 3 to 11, 13 and 14, 16 to 20, 24, 26, 28, 32 and 34. In verses 4, 8 and 9 he gives God's commandments and the words of the prophet Isaiah. The disciples speak in verses 12, 23 and 33, and answer him in verse 34. Peter speaks in verse 15. The Canaanite woman speaks in verses 22, 25 and 27. The narrator tells the rest. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying,
In plain English: Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,
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2“Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat bread.”
In plain English: "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands when they eat bread."
The Greek word: "Tradition" is paradosis. The dictionary gives it as a handing on, that is, a rule, and especially the Jewish traditional law. It is in 3 verses of Matthew (, and ), and the World English Bible has "tradition" in all 3.
Good to know: says the Pharisees and all the Jews "don't eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders".
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3He answered them, “Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition?
In plain English: He answered them, "Why do you also break the commandment of God because of your tradition?
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4For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’
In plain English: For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.'
Good to know: Jesus says God commanded these two things. The first, "Honor your father and your mother", is in . The second is like , which in the World English Bible reads: "Anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death."
The Greek word: "Speaks evil of" is kakologōn, from kakologeō. The dictionary gives it as to revile.
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5But you say, ‘Whoever may tell his father or his mother, “Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God,”
In plain English: But you say, 'Whoever tells his father or his mother, "Whatever help you might have had from me is a gift" (this Bible adds: devoted to God),
The Greek word: "Gift" is dōron. The dictionary gives it as a present, and especially a sacrifice. The Greek has only the word for gift here; "devoted to God" is the World English Bible's addition.
How it is translated: Dōron is in 7 verses of Matthew, and the World English Bible has "gift" in all 7.
Good to know: The sentence runs from verse 5 into verse 6. has a similar saying with the word "Corban", which Mark explains as "given to God".
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6he shall not honor his father or mother.’ You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition.
In plain English: he shall not honor his father or mother.' You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition.
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7You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,
In plain English: You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you. He said,
The Greek word: "Hypocrites" is hypokritai, from hypokritēs. The dictionary gives it as an actor playing a part, and from that someone who hides what he is. In Matthew it is in 15 verses, and the World English Bible has "hypocrite" in all 15.
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8‘These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
In plain English: 'These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me.
Good to know: Jesus says Isaiah prophesied about them. in the World English Bible reads: "this people draws near with their mouth and honors me with their lips, but they have removed their heart far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men which has been taught". Verses 8 and 9 give the saying in different words, and Matthew's version has "in vain".
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9And they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrine rules made by men.’”
In plain English: They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the rules of men.'"
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10He summoned the multitude, and said to them, “Hear, and understand.
In plain English: He called the crowd to him and said to them, "Hear, and understand.
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11That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”
In plain English: What goes into the mouth does not defile (make unclean) the man. But what comes out of the mouth, this defiles the man."
The Greek word: "Defiles" is koinoi, from koinoō. The dictionary gives it as to make, or to count as, profane in the sense of the ceremonies.
How it is translated: The word is in 11 verses of the New Testament. The World English Bible has "defile" in 9 of them and "unclean" in the other 2, and .
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12Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
In plain English: Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended (tripped up) when they heard what you said?"
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13But he answered, “Every plant which my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted.
In plain English: He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be pulled up by the roots.
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14Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
In plain English: Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit."
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15Peter answered him, “Explain the parable to us.”
In plain English: Peter answered him, "Explain this parable to us."
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16So Jesus said, “Do you also still not understand?
In plain English: Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding?
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17Don’t you understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly and then out of the body?
In plain English: Don't you understand that everything that goes into the mouth goes into the stomach and is then thrown out into the latrine (this Bible: out of the body)?
The Greek word: The last word of the verse is aphedrōna. The dictionary gives it as a privy, a place set apart for sitting. The World English Bible has "out of the body".
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18But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man.
In plain English: But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and that is what defiles the man.
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19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies.
In plain English: For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins (or: sexual immorality), thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies (or: slanders).
The Greek words: "Sexual sins" is porneiai, from porneia. The dictionary gives it as harlotry, including adultery and incest, and as a figure for idolatry. "Adulteries" is a separate word in the same list, moicheiai.
How it is translated: Porneia is in 3 verses of Matthew, and the World English Bible has "sexual" in all 3. It is in 25 verses of the New Testament, and again "sexual" is in all 25.
The Greek word: "Blasphemies" is blasphēmiai, from blasphēmia. The dictionary gives it as vilification, especially against God.
What changes: Read as vilification of anyone, the word covers abuse of any kind. Read as especially against God, it names speech against God. The list gives the word and no more.
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20These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn’t defile the man.”
In plain English: These are the things that defile the man. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man."
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21Jesus went out from there and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon.
In plain English: Jesus went out from there and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
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22Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders and cried, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely possessed by a demon!”
In plain English: A Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried out to him, "Have mercy on me, Lord, son of David! My daughter is severely possessed by a demon (literally: badly demon-possessed)."
The Greek word: "Canaanite" is Chananaia. The dictionary gives it as a Canaanite, or a native of non-Jewish Palestine.
Good to know: tells of a woman who begged him to cast a demon out of her daughter, and calls her "a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race". Each is given here as it stands.
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23But he answered her not a word. His disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away; for she cries after us.”
In plain English: But he did not answer her a word. His disciples came and begged him, "Send her away, because she cries out after us."
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24But he answered, “I wasn’t sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
In plain English: He answered, "I was sent only to the lost (or: perishing) sheep of the house of Israel."
The Greek word: "Lost" is apolōlota, from apollymi. The dictionary gives it as to destroy fully, to perish, or to lose.
What changes: Read as "lost", the sheep are ones that are missing. Read as "perishing", they are ones on the way to ruin. The same words, "the lost sheep of the house of Israel", are in .
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25But she came and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, help me.”
In plain English: But she came, worshiped (or: bowed down to) him, and said, "Lord, help me."
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26But he answered, “It is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
In plain English: He answered, "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs (or: little dogs, puppies)."
The Greek word: "Dogs" is kynaria, from kynarion. The dictionary gives it as a puppy. The word is in 4 verses of the New Testament: here, , and . The World English Bible has "dog" in all 4.
What changes: Read as "dogs", the saying is about dogs in general. Read as "puppies" or little dogs, it is about small or young dogs. The woman takes up the same word in verse 27.
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27But she said, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
In plain English: She said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."
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28Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.
In plain English: Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed from that hour.
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29Jesus departed from there and came near to the sea of Galilee; and he went up on the mountain and sat there.
In plain English: Jesus left there and came along the Sea of Galilee. He went up on the mountain and sat down there.
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30Great multitudes came to him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others, and they put them down at his feet. He healed them,
In plain English: Large crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the mute (or: deaf), the maimed, and many others. They put them down at his feet, and he healed them,
The Greek word: "Mute" is kōphous, from kōphos. The dictionary gives it as blunted, and so deaf or unable to speak.
How it is translated: The word is in 12 verses of the New Testament, 6 of them in Matthew. The World English Bible has "mute" in 9 of the 12 and "deaf" in 5 (some verses have both).
What changes: Read as "mute", the ones brought could not speak. Read as "deaf", they could not hear. In the same word is used and they are seen "speaking".
The Greek word: "Maimed" is kyllous, from kyllos. The dictionary gives it as crippled, or maimed in feet or hands.
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31so that the multitude wondered when they saw the mute speaking, the injured healed, the lame walking, and the blind seeing—and they glorified the God of Israel.
In plain English: so that the crowd was amazed to see the mute (or: deaf) speaking, the maimed (this Bible: injured) made whole, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.
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32Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have continued with me now three days and have nothing to eat. I don’t want to send them away fasting, or they might faint on the way.”
In plain English: Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have stayed with me now three days and have nothing to eat. I don't want to send them away without eating, or they might faint on the way."
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33The disciples said to him, “Where could we get so many loaves in a deserted place as to satisfy so great a multitude?”
In plain English: The disciples said to him, "Where could we get so many loaves in a deserted place to satisfy so great a crowd?"
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34Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.”
In plain English: Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish."
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35He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground;
In plain English: He told the crowd to sit down on the ground.
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36and he took the seven loaves and the fish. He gave thanks and broke them, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.
In plain English: He took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks and broke them, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
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37They all ate and were filled. They took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over.
In plain English: They all ate and were filled. They picked up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over.
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38Those who ate were four thousand men, in addition to women and children.
In plain English: Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.
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39Then he sent away the multitudes, got into the boat, and came into the borders of Magdala.
In plain English: Then he sent the crowds away, got into the boat and came to the region of Magdala.
The Greek word: "Magdala" is Magdala. The dictionary gives it as the tower, a place in Palestine. says that Jesus came into "the region of Dalmanutha".
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