The Book of Matthew
Matthew was taught by Dr. James Modlish

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

15:1-2 Tradition of elders - (Mk. 7:1-13)

Tradition of men - (Col. 2:8)

Vain traditions - (1 Pet. 1:18)

15:3-6 (Prov. 28:24,27; Deut. 22-26)

Corban (gift) - split 50/50 with priest

15:7-9 "Ye hypocrites" - favorite title for religious leaders, quote from (Isa. 29:13). Jesus said the real trouble was heart trouble (Prov. 23:7; 4:23; Rom. 10:9,10).

15:10-14 There will always be disciples that are worried about who the preacher offended.

Plant - (Matt. 23:13,15). The plant is the same as the one in (3:10), not a Hyper-Calvinist idea, but the Pharisees system, doctrine, etc. The ditch, in (Prov. 23:27) is the ecumenical woman of (Rev. 17).

15:15-20 It is God telling the Pharisee what is going on in his heart, which he will eventually perform.

Notice carefully: "evil thoughts" (Matt. 12:25; 22:15; 24:48), "murders" (Jn. 12:10) - They were going to murder Lazarus!), "adulteries" (Jn. 8:1-8) - Where was the man involved in the adult? How did they catch the woman without the man? Lev. 20:10), "fornications" (The only one in the list not mentioned later), "thefts" (see 21:38!!); "false witness" (26:60!), and "blasphemies" (Matt. 27:41). That is, the religious leaders are guilty on 6 out of 7 counts in the indictment. (In the account in Mark 7:1, they are guilty of 11 out of 13.) While avoiding entering into Gentile building, "lest they should be defiled" (Jn. 18:28), the long-robbed "fathers" stain their hands with the blood of a sinless Man, and debauch their souls with "hand washing traditions" (15:2).

Draught (2 Ki. 10:27) = disposed for human manure. Too bad the pope doesn't believe this.

15:21-24 "Coasts" indicate borders of Phoenicia which touch the Galilean border for 50-55 miles. Coast is border in A.V. (Ex. 10:19; Deut. 2:4; Jud. 11:12) Sea coast is ocean (Lk. 6:17). The woman addresses Him correctly (LORD) Phil 2:8-10. Lost sheep of Israel - (10:6).

15:25-28 Here is a beautiful study of prayer.

[1]. We are turned down to see if we are in earnest.

[2]. We are turned down to show us how helpless we are in the face of emergencies.

[3]. We are turned down until we get the selfish element out of out prayers.

[4]. A refusal is not always a permanent thing.

[5]. Continuing in prayer strengthens our faith.

The "servant of servants" accomplished, in the above verses, what the best religious brains of the day could not do in 3 1/2 years (see 22:15) - she entangled Him in His talk. (Prov. 12:10)

The word for a female dog is not flattering in any language.

15:29-31 The Sinaitic manuscript left out "the maimed to be whole" - evidently Jesus Christ was getting too much glory.

15:32-39 See feeding of 5000 in (Matt. 14:21). It is never said that the Pharisees had compassion on the multitudes.

Seven and a few little fishes - Notice: they do not ask again "what are they among so many?" (Jn 6:9) - learned at least one lesson.

Magdala = west of Galilee - 5 miles not of Tiberias.

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