Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Matthew 15

Mat 15:2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

the tradition of the elders

Mat 23:16-18; Mar 7:1-23.

Mat 15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

the commandment of God

Mat 23:23; Jhn 18:28; contra, Rom 3:31.

Mat 15:4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

Honour thy father and mother

Exo 20:12; Jer 35:18, 19.

curseth father or mother

Exo 21:17.

die the death

surely die. See Lev 20:9; Deu 27:16; Pro 30:17. Cf. 1Ti 5:4-8.

Mat 15:5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

a gift

i.e. dedicated to God. Mat 5:23, 24. See Scofield Mark 7:11, ref.

Mat 15:7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

Esaias prophesy of you

Isa 29:13; Eze 33:31.

Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

draweth nigh unto me with their mouth

Mat 15:8, 9; Isa 29:13.

Mat 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

Not that which goeth into the mouth

Rom 14:14-23; Col 2:20, 23.

but that which cometh out

Jer 17:9, 10; Rom 3:10-18; Tit 1:15.

Mat 15:13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

hath not planted, shall be rooted up

Mat 5:20; Act 15:10.

Mat 15:16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?

also yet

Or, even yet.

Mat 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

come forth from the heart

Gen 6:5; Jer 17:9, 10; Jas 3:10-12.

Mat 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

adulteries, fornications

Gal 5:19-21.

Mat 15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon

For the first time the rejected Son of David ministers to a Gentile. It is a precursive fulfilment of Mat 12:18. Addressed by a Gentile as Son of David, He makes no reply, for a Gentile has no claim upon Him in that character (see Scofield Matthew 2:2, note; Eph 2:12). Addressing him as "Lord," she obtained an immediate answer. See Scofield Romans 10:12, 13.

Mat 15:22 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.

Have mercy on me, O Lord

Bible prayers (N.T.). Mat 26:39. (Mat 6:9; Rev 22:20.)

Son of David

Mat 1:1; 22:41, 42; Psa 132:11.

Mat 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

lost sheep

Greek apollumi. Scofield John 3:16, note.

Mat 15:25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

Lord, help me

Psa 145:18.

Mat 15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

to cast it to dogs

Mat 7:6; Jhn 4:22.

Mat 15:27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

dogs

Literally little dogs.

Mat 15:28 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.

O woman, great is thy faith

Kingdom (N.T.). Mat 15:21-28; Mat 16:20, 21. (Luk 1:31-33; 1Co 15:28).

Luk 7:7, 9; cf. Mar 6:6. Faith honours God, knowing that he is faithful; cf. 1Jo 5:10.

even as thou wilt

Mat 9:27-29; 21:21, 22.

her daughter was made whole

Miracles (N.T.). Mat 15:21-28, 32-39; Mat 17:14-18. (Mat 8:2-3; Act 28:8-9.)

Mat 15:30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:

cast them down at Jesus' feet

Mar 7:25; Luk 7:38; 8:41; 10:39.

Mat 15:31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

they glorified the God of Israel

Mat 11:20-24; Luk 5:25, 26; 19:37, 38.

Mat 15:32 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.

I have compassion on the multitude

Mat 9:36-38; Mar 8:1-9.

Mat 15:34 And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.

Seven, and a few little fishes

Mat 15:37; Mat 14:17.

Mat 15:37 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.

seven baskets full

Mat 14:20.

Mat 15:38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.

four thousand men, beside women and children

Mat 14:21.