Traditions and Commandments
1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat."
The Pharisees and teachers of religious law came from Jerusalem, the center of Jewish authority, to scrutinize Jesus' activities. Over the centuries since the Jews' return from Babylonian captivity, hundreds of religious traditions had been added to God's laws. The Pharisees and teachers of religious law considered all the laws equally important. Many traditions are not bad in themselves. Certain religious traditions can add richness and meaning to worship and to life. But we must not assume that because our traditions have been practiced for years they should be elevated to a sacred standing. God's principles never change, and his law doesn't need any additions; it needs to be rightly applied to our lives. Traditions should help us understand God's Word better, not have equal status with it.
3 He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.' 5 But you say, 'If anyone tells his father or his mother, "What you would have gained from me is given to God," 6 he need not honor his father.' So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.
This was the practice of Corban (literally, "offering"; see Mark 7:11). Anyone who made a Corban vow was required to dedicate money to God's Temple, and for some that was money that otherwise would have gone to support their parents. Corban had become a religiously acceptable and convenient way to neglect parents, circumventing the adult child's responsibility to them. Although the action—giving money to God—seemed worthy, and no doubt conferred prestige on the giver, many people who took the Corban vow were disregarding God's command to care for parents who were in need. These religious leaders were ignoring God's clear command to honor their fathers and mothers (Exodus 20:12).
7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: 8 "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"
The prophet Isaiah also criticized hypocrites (Isaiah 29:13), and Jesus applied Isaiah's words to these religious leaders. The Pharisees knew a lot about God, but they didn't know God. When we claim to honor God while our hearts are distant from him or preoccupied with other things, our worship means nothing. It is not enough to learn about religion or act religiously or even study the Bible; our actions and attitudes must be sincere. If they are not, Isaiah's words also describe us.
What Defiles a Person
10 And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person."
Jesus was referring to the Jewish regulations concerning food and drink. This verse could be paraphrased this way: "You aren't made unclean by eating nonkosher food! Instead, what you say and think makes you unclean!" This statement offended the Pharisees, who were very concerned about what people should eat and drink.
12 Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" 13 He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit."
Jesus told his disciples to ignore the Pharisees because they were blind to God's truth. Anyone who listened to their teaching would risk spiritual blindness as well. Their teaching, which they so piously elevated, would be uprooted by God. Not all religious leaders clearly see God's truth. Make sure that those you listen to and learn from have good spiritual eyesight, teaching and modeling the principles of Scripture and not elevating their own words above God's Word.
15 But Peter said to him, "Explain the parable to us."
Later, Peter would be faced with the issue of clean and unclean food (see the notes on 15:11 and Acts 10:12-20). Then he would learn that nothing should be a barrier to proclaiming the Good News to the Gentiles (non-Jews).
16 And he said, "Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone."
We work hard to keep up our outward appearances, but what is deep down in our hearts—where others can't see—is more important to God. What are you like inside? When people become followers of Jesus, God's Spirit begins to make them attractive on the inside. He will continue the process of change inside them if they only ask. When God's Spirit takes up residence in our hearts, he transforms us from the inside out. There is something attractive about those who exhibit the love and grace of God. As we allow him to transform us, we find that fewer and fewer foul, offensive, or hurtful words or actions come out of us as we become more and more like God.
The Faith of a Canaanite Woman
21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon." 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying out after us."
Puzzled by Jesus' silence, the disciples asked him to get rid of this Gentile woman because she was bothering them with her persistent begging. They showed no compassion for her or sensitivity to her needs. But Jesus was not bothered by her at all. He had a purpose in being quiet. It is possible to become so occupied with ministry activities that we become oblivious to the real needs around us. This may be true especially if we look down on people who are in need or who are different from us or if helping those around us would cause us inconvenience. Instead of being annoyed, be aware of the opportunities that surround you, and make an effort to look for ways to minister to those who are in need.
24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." 26 And he answered, "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
Jesus' words do not contradict the truth that God's message is for all people (Psalm 22:27; Isaiah 56:7; Matthew 28:19; Romans 15:9-12). After all, when Jesus said these words, he was in Gentile territory on a mission to Gentile people. He also ministered to Gentiles on many other occasions. Jesus was simply telling the woman that Jews were to have the first opportunity to accept him as the Messiah because God wanted them to present the message of salvation to people of all nations and backgrounds (see Genesis 12:3). Jesus was not rejecting the Gentile woman. He may have wanted to test her faith, or he may have wanted to use the situation as another opportunity to teach his disciples that faith is available to all people.
27 She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." 28 Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.
On the surface, Jesus' words may seem harsh and unsympathetic, but the woman recognized them as a wide-open door to God's throne. Jesus did not use the negative term for dogs that referred to scavengers (the word sometimes used by Jews to refer to Gentiles); instead, he used the term for a household pet. The woman did not argue with the illustration Jesus used. Instead, using Jesus' choice of words, she agreed to be considered a dog as long as she could receive God's blessing for her daughter. In response to her faith, Jesus affirmed her and granted her request. Ironically, many Jews would lose God's blessing and salvation because they rejected Jesus, and many Gentiles would find salvation because they recognized and accepted him.
Jesus Heals Many
29 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. And they glorified the God of Israel.
A vast crowd was brought to Jesus to be healed, and he healed them all. Jesus is still able to heal people who are suffering physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and we can be the ones who bring suffering people to him. Whom do you know who needs Jesus' healing touch? You can bring them to him through prayer or by explaining to them the reason for the hope that you have (1 Peter 3:15). Then let Jesus do the healing.
Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand
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." 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?"
Jesus had already fed more than 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish. Here, in a similar situation, the disciples were again perplexed. How easily we throw up our hands in despair when faced with difficult situations. Like the disciples, we often forget that if God has cared for us in the past, he will do the same now. When facing a difficult situation, remember that God cares for you and trust him to work faithfully again.
34 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. 39 And after sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.
This feeding of 4,000 is a separate event from the feeding of the 5,000 (14:13-21), confirmed by Mark 8:19-20. This was the beginning of Jesus' expanded ministry to the Gentiles.