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Scott's Reference Library
Matthew 15:10 through Matthew 15:28 (NIV)
10Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11What
goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his
mouth, that is what makes him‘unclean.’”
12Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were
offended when they heard this?”
13He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be
pulled up by the roots. 14Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man
leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
15Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”
16“Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. 17“Don’t you see that whatever
enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18But the
things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man
‘unclean.’ 19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual
immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20These are what make a man
‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean.’”
21Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22A
Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David,
have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.”
23Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send
her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
25The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
26He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their
dogs.”
27“Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their
masters’ table.”
28Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.”
And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 10-20
Christ shows that the defilement they ought to fear, was not from what entered
their mouths as food, but from what came out of their mouths, which showed the
wickedness of their hearts. Nothing will last in the soul but the regenerating
graces of the Holy Spirit; and nothing should be admitted into the church but
what is from above; therefore, whoever is offended by a plain, seasonable
declaration of the truth, we should not be troubled at it. The disciples ask to
be better taught as to this matter. Where a weak head doubts concerning any word
of Christ, an upright heart and a willing mind seek for instruction. It is the
heart that is desperately wicked, Jeremiah 17:9, for there is no sin in word or
deed, which was not first in the heart. They all come out of the man, and are
fruits of that wickedness which is in the heart, and is wrought there. When
Christ teaches, he will show men the deceitfulness and wickedness of their own
hearts; he will teach them to humble themselves, and to seek to be cleansed in
the Fountain opened for sin and uncleanness.
VERSES 21-28
The dark corners of the country, the most remote, shall share Christ’s
influences; afterwards the ends of the earth shall see his salvation. The
distress and trouble of her family brought a woman to Christ; and though it is
need that drives us to Christ, yet we shall not therefore be driven from him.
She did not limit Christ to any particular instance of mercy, but mercy, mercy,
is what she begged for: she pleads not merit, but depends upon mercy. It is the
duty of parents to pray for their children, and to be earnest in prayer for
them, especially for their souls. Have you a son, a daughter, grievously vexed
with a proud devil, an unclean devil, a malicious devil, led captive by him at
his will? this is a case more deplorable than that of bodily possession, and you
must bring them by faith and prayer to Christ, who alone is able to heal them.
Many methods of Christ’s providence, especially of his grace, in dealing with
his people, which are dark and perplexing, may be explained by this story, which
teaches that there may be love in Christ’s heart while there are frowns in his
face; and it encourages us, though he seems ready to slay us, yet to trust in
him. Those whom Christ intends most to honour, he humbles to feel their own
unworthiness. A proud, unhumbled heart would not have borne this; but she turned
it into an argument to support her request. The state of this woman is an emblem
of the state of a sinner, deeply conscious of the misery of his soul. The least
of Christ is precious to a believer, even the very crumbs of the Bread of life.
Of all graces, faith honours Christ most; therefore of all graces Christ honours
faith most. He cured her daughter. He spake, and it was done. From hence let
such as seek help from the Lord, and receive no gracious answer, learn to turn
even their unworthiness and discouragements into pleas for mercy.