Matthew — Chapter 15

📖 Matthew — Chapter 15 (KJV)

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Red lettering identifies words spoken by Jesus; it is an editorial reading aid. Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.

Matthew 15:1 Then ^Rcame to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

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

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

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

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

Matthew 15:6 And ^Rhonour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

Matthew 15:7 Ye ^Rhypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

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

Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, ^Rteaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Matthew 15:10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, ^RHear, and understand:

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

Matthew 15:12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, ^RKnowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

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

Matthew 15:14 ^RLet them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Matthew 15:15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, ^RDeclare unto us this parable.

Matthew 15:16 ^RAnd Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?

Matthew 15:17 Do not ye yet understand, ^Rthat whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

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

Matthew 15:19 For ^Rout of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Matthew 15:20 These are the things ^Rwhich defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

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

Matthew 15:22 And, behold, ^Ra 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.

Matthew 15:23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, ^RSend her away; for she crieth after us.

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

Matthew 15:25 Then ^Rcame she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

Matthew 15:26 But he answered and said, ^RIt is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.

Matthew 15:27 And she said, ^RTruth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

Matthew 15:28 Then ^RJesus 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.

Matthew 15:29 And Jesus departed from thence, ^Rand came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.

Matthew 15:30 And ^Rgreat 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:

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

Matthew 15:32 Then ^RJesus 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.

Matthew 15:33 And his disciples say unto him, ^RWhence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?

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

Matthew 15:35 And he commanded the multitude ^Rto sit down on the ground.

Matthew 15:36 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, ^Rand gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

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

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

Matthew 15:39 And ^Rhe sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.

📚 Study This Chapter

📖 What We’re Reading

Matthew 15:1–9 — Tradition must not cancel God’s command

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

A dispute about washing hands leads Jesus to expose a tradition that evades honor for parents. He cites Isaiah concerning people whose lips honor God while their hearts are far away.

Key Truth: Test inherited practice by God’s command rather than its familiarity.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Matthew 15:10–20 — Defilement is traced to what comes from the heart

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Jesus teaches that moral defilement is not caused by unwashed hands. His explanation names the evil proceeding from the heart and challenges the blindness of misleading guides.

Key Truth: Seek a truthful heart rather than merely a clean appearance.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Matthew 15:21–39 — Persistent faith and compassion receive help

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

A woman of Canaan seeks mercy for her daughter and persists through the exchange with Jesus. Many are healed, and Jesus feeds four thousand from seven loaves and a few fishes.

Key Truth: Let humble faith and compassion shape your response to need.

Check What You Remember

Related Scripture (KJV)

Isaiah 29:13 — Jesus cites Isaiah’s warning concerning outward devotion with a distant heart.

Isaiah 29:13 (KJV) Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.

Reflect and Apply

Which practice in your life needs to express inward devotion more honestly?

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