[:en]SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 15
“These people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men” (Matthew 15:8-9)
“What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him unclean, but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him unclean” (Matthew 15:22)
CLEAN AND UNCLEAN (vs. 1-20)
Some Pharisees and teachers of the law accused Jesus’ disciples of violating the traditions of the Jewish elders by not going through the ceremonial washing of hands when they ate. Jesus replied: “Why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?” (v. 3). He pointed out that God commanded them to honor their father and mother, but they circumvented the law. Instead of supporting their parents, they used the money as offering to God. They are nullifying the Word of God for the sake of tradition which Jesus considered it as hypocrisy. Jesus explained that holiness is what comes out of the heart. Instead of believing in God’s truth, they are following human traditions. Their traditions are outward forms with strict man-made laws that exalted themselves. They brought bondage and produced hypocritic piety. God’s truth are basic principles of God’s Words that humble men. They bring liberty and result in true holiness.
THE FAITH OF THE CANAANITE WOMAN (vs. 21-28)
As Jews went to the region of Tyre and Sidon, a Canaanite woman came and cried out: “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me”. She was begging Jesus to heal her demon-possessed daughter. Jesus responded to this woman in 4 different ways. He was silent; then He refused; then He seemed to rebuke her; and finally, He healed her. The woman was a Gentile. She called Him “Son of David” thinking that approaching Jesus in Jewish terms was the way to be healed. Jesus did not respond. But when she called Him “Lord”, He answered her plea. The woman’s faith was proven when she said: “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table”. In other words, she knew that the Gentiles were saved through the Jewish nation, so she was willing to take even the crumbs from the table. Jesus granted her request because of her great faith.
JESUS FEEDS THE FOUR THOUSAND (vs. 29-39)
Great crowds gather bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others to Jesus. Jesus healed them and they praised the God of Israel. Since the people had been with Jesus for 3 days, they have nothing to eat. So Jesus told His disciples to bring the seven loaves and a few small fish. He gave thanks, broke them and gave the disciples to distribute them. All were satisfied with 7 basketfuls of broken pieces leftovers.
SUMMARY:
Jesus is against the man-made traditions of the scribes and Pharisees that focused on the outside and ignored the inner person. They were plants that the heavenly Father did not plant. They were blind that lead another blind man. So Jesus said: “Leave them alone” (v. 14)
True religion comes from the heart, not from the lips. And God wants us to honor Him in truth and in Spirit. That is why we must be born again to get a new heart from God.
If we ask Jesus anything, faith is the most important pre-requisite. Without faith, your request will not be granted.
The feeding of the 5,000 in Matthew 14 and the feeding of 4,000 in Matthew 15 had many differences. The feeding of 5,000 were predominantly Jews. It took place in Galilee, Bethsaida. There were 5 loaves and 2 fish with 12 basketfuls leftovers. It was in the spring of the year and the crowd was with Jesus for one day. The feeding of 4000 were predominantly Gentiles. It took place at Decapolis. There were 7 loaves and a few fish with 7 basketfuls leftover. It was in the summer and the crowd was with Jesus for 3 days.
Jesus performed miracles to both the Jews and the Gentiles. It shows that Christ is going to save both the Jews and Gentiles.
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