Lectionary Calendar

Wednesday, April 17th, 2024
the Third Week after Easter

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Bible Commentaries
Matthew 15

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Introduction

Introduction:
1. Read Matt 15:1-20
  1. Jesus is dealing with hypocrisy and how the Pharisees are putting tradition before God’s Word.

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Verse 3

Priority of the Word
Matthew 15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
1. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2. 2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
3. John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4. Psalms 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
5. John 1:1, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
6. Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
7. Jesus is the living Word, the Word is the Revelation of “Who” God is and we must see that NOTHING supercedes it!

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Verses 8-20

Close Lips, Far Hearts
Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Why do our hearts leave?
1. Busyness
  Luke 10:38-42 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
2. Sin
  Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
  1. Habakkuk 1:13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?
  2. Our sin harden’s our hearts which leads to greater sin – a little leaven leavens the whole lump!
  3. David’s sin with Bathsheba…led to the Murder of Uriah the Hittite
3. Drifting Heart
  Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
  1. Psalms 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
  2. James 4:4-5 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Our Response: Draw Near to God
Revelation 2:1-5 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
1. Remember
  1. 2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
  2. Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
2. Repent
  1. 1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
  2. Psalms 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
  3. Psalms 51:1-4 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
  4. Hebrews 13:13-14 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
  5. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
3. Return
  1. Jeremiah 29:12-13 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
  2. James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
  3. Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
  4. Lamentations 3:21-26 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
  5. Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

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Verses 21-28

Introduction:
1. Read Matt 15:21-28
2. Matthew 11:20-24 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
The Syrophenician Woman
Matthew 15:21-28 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
1. Going to the Gentiles
  1. (v 21) Jesus travels away from the Jewish areas and goes Northwest to Tyre and Sidon.
  2. (v22a) The woman and her daughter were gentiles.
    1. Mark 7:25-26 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet: 26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
  3. (v22b) She came to Jesus crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David”…
    1. She was calling Him the Christ, the Messiah, when she used the term “Son of David” and was submitting herself to Him by calling Him Lord.
2. Jesus Responds to the Gentiles
  1. (v23a) What was Jesus’ response?
    1. Silence!
    2. The silence of God is difficult to handle…I cry but there doesn’t seem to be a response!
    3. What do we do when we encounter silence from God?
    4. Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
    5. When God is silent…He is saying “Wait”.
3. The Disciples Respond to the Gentiles
  1. (v23b) Then the disciples said to “Send her away!”
    1. The problem with ministry is the “people”!
    2. She was basically “bugging them” until she got her daughter healed –
      1. “What parent wouldn’t?”
      2. This is a demonstration of a principle Jesus taught in another gospel:
      3. Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
    3. Their motive wasn’t one of compassion for either the woman or her daughter…they just wanted her to leave.
4. Her Response
  1. (v24) “But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
    1. Jesus doesn’t respond to the women’s request…Jesus simply declares His “PRIMARY” mission…saving Israel.
    2. Would you assume that this meant “No”?
    3. How do we react when all the factors appear against us? Do we persevere or give up?
Worshipping Jesus
1. She Worshipped Him
  1. (v 25) Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
    1. Her Worship was spontaneous…our worship of Jesus should be, too!
    2. Worship is not a procedure we follow…it should be creative and spontaneous, simple and sincere.
    3. Look at David in 2Sam 6:12…
      1. 2 Samuel 6:12-15 And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness. 13 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. 14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
      2. 2 Samuel 6:17-19 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. 19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
    4. David simply and joyfully worshipped the Lord through sacrifice and dance.
    5. Look, however, at what happens when you don’t worship the Lord with an open heart and a contrite spirit…
      1. 2 Samuel 6:16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
      2. 2 Samuel 6:20-23 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! 21 And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. 22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. 23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
    6. Michal was like her father, King Saul…he was a worker, NOT a Worshipper!
    7. Do we see what can happen when our hearts and lives are NOT about worship?
      1. 2 Samuel 6:23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
      2. It’s not the physical realm that will be barren (necessarily), but our souls will be barren, empty, dry and unfruitful.
      3. Worship is such and integral and necessary part of the Christian walk…
        
        ** We worship through song and dance, through praise and adoration, through sacrifice and offerings…
        
        We worship when we “get down to our ‘underware’” – when we let go of our pride and pretense, when we get to the point where we simply don’t care what others around us are doing or thinking but we see our worship as simply ONE FOCUS: Jesus!
    8. So, when we’re empty, not hearing from the Lord, doing but not seeking Him, try worshipping Him!
Lord, Help me!
1. Humble Before the Lord
  1. (v 25) Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
    1. She humbled herself before her Lord and asked for help…
      1. Oswald Chambers (“My Utmost for His Highest”, June 10^th) “. . . knock, and it will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9). “Draw near to God . . .” (James 4:8). Knock— the door is closed, and your heartbeat races as you knock. “Cleanse your hands . . .” (James 4:8). Knock a bit louder— you begin to find that you are dirty. “. . . purify your hearts . . .” (James 4:8). It is becoming even more personal— you are desperate and serious now— you will do anything. “Lament . . . ” (James 4:9). Have you ever lamented, expressing your sorrow before God for the condition of your inner life? There is no thread of self-pity left, only the heart-rending difficulty and amazement which comes from seeing what kind of person you really are. “Humble yourselves . . . ” (James 4:10). It is a humbling experience to knock at God’s door— you have to knock with the crucified thief. “. . . to him who knocks it will be opened” (Luke 11:10).
2. Jesus’ Response
  1. Matt 15:26-28 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Conclusion
Where is our faith? Do we have compassion? Are we kind?
Lord, make us more like Jesus!

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Verses 29-39

Introduction:
1. Read Matt 15:29-39
2. Context: Mark 7:31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis.
The Bread of Life: Coming to Jesus
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. 30 And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, 31 so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing.
1. Who Might Have Come?
  1. Some may have come to hear Him speak
  2. Some may have come for free lunch
2. Who REALLY Came?
  1. Those who knew they couldn't live without Him (Remember, they had been with him w/o food for 3 days)
    1. The lame
    2. The maimed
    3. The blind
    4. Those who were hurting!
    5. Those who knew their need, and were willing to admit their need (the Humble)
    6. Those who knew they’d never be good enough
3. He healed them ALL!
  The Result…
  Matthew 15:31d And they glorified the God of Israel.
Feeding the 4000
Matthew 15:32 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."
1. Comparison to Feeding the 5000
  1. 5000: with Jesus for 1 day/4000: with Jesus 3 days
  2. 5000: sat on the grass (late winter, early spring)/ 4000: sat on the ground (summer)
  3. 5000: five loaves and two fish/4000: seven loaves and a few fish
  4. 5000: 12 baskets left over/4000: 7 large baskets leftover
  5. 5000: near Galilee; Jewish community/4000 Decapolis; Ten Gentile cities
2. Jesus has Compassion on the People
  “I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way."
  1. Compassion is “Your pain in my heart”…Jesus always modeled this perfectly!
  2. He knew their needs and He desired to meet them right where they were!
3. How will we feed them?
  Matthew 15:33 And the disciples said to him, "Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?"
  1. Forgot the feeding of the 5000: How soon we forget!
  2. If we can't figure it out, we think it can't be done
    1. Remember the Israelites who not only didn’t think they could “take” the promised land because of the giants,
    2. They also had forgotten that God had just brought 10 plagues on Egypt
    3. God held the entire Egyptian Army back with a pillar of fire,
    4. AND parted the Red Sea so that they could walk through on Dry Land!
  3. Sarah laughed about getting pregnant
  4. Like a 747; some laws supersede others
  5. When it comes to Miracles: God has another set of laws
4. How did Jesus Feed them?
  Matthew 15:34-38 And Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "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 having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37 And 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.
  1. They were fed…
    1. John 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
    2. John 6:47-51 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
    3. Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
      1. And so they were fed, they were filled – LITERALLY they were glutted! And 7 baskets…this time laundry basket sized baskets were left-over (with the 5000, 12 personal lunch-box sized baskets were left over).
      2. When we come to Jesus spiritually hungry…we will always be fed – glutted and have left-overs!
Going to the World
1. Who did He use?
  1. He could have just dropped Happy Meals into their laps, He could have flown in slurpees and hotdogs like the Manna for the Israelites, but He didn’t. He used people to be part of HIS plan!
  2. Jesus chose to include the disciples in His plan for feeding the crowd. God likes to include His kids in what He does…like painting the fence with the 3 year old :o)
  3. God doesn’t call the qualified…He qualifies the called!
    1. “Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, David had an affair, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossip, Martha was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Sara was impatient, Elijah was moody, Moses stuttered, Abraham was old,… and Lazarus was dead. God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the CALLED!”
  4. This is How evangelism takes place: God has called all of us to share the gospel message and make disciples…He has entrusted His life-changing message to us…
  5. And when we step out in faith, He WILL qualify us – He WILL equip us – and He WILL empower us to share the good news!
  6. Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."
Conclusion
1. Matthew 15:39 And after sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.
2. Jesus moved on…He went to the “Next” place…He was always focused upon Our Father’s Business!
3. Is that our goal? …What is our life focused on?
4. Dream: Prisoners on death row…urgency!
5. Isaiah 6:8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." …Send me!!!

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Copyright Statement
Brown's Commentary on the New Testament is reproduced by permission of author. All other rights reserved.

Bibliographical Information
Brown, Jim. "Commentary on Matthew 15". "Brown's Commentary on the New Testament". https://studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnc/matthew-15.html. 2017.

Bible CommentariesMatthew 15

Brown's Commentary on the New TestamentBrown's Commentary

Introduction

Verse 3

Verses 8-20

Verses 21-28

Verses 29-39

Bible Commentaries
Matthew 15