Matthew 15

The religion of the Pharisees and the scribes had over time become a religion full of man-made traditions. Especially prominent among these traditions were rituals concerning washing. These were so firmly imbedded within the mindset of religious Jews, that it was generally thought by the people of the day that this way of cleansing was the God-fearing way of life. For this reason, many asked Jesus about this issue. It seemed obvious to them that the leader of a movement that professed allegiance to Israel’s God would certainly keep the established traditions of the elders concerning ceremonial washing.

In answer to their concerns, the Lord first exposes the fact that they have grown used to preferring their traditions to the explicit commandments of God. We need to notice that Christ shows again the depths of God’s Law, while the Pharisees emphasize outward rituals that could easily be followed by those who had no real love for God or for people. He turns to the fifth commandment, and rather than minimize the obligations of the Law through traditions that defined ways of guaranteeing that someone could be sure to look holy, Jesus teaches us that our obedience to God includes caring for our elderly parents when they are in need. It is the height of anti-religion to figure out outward ceremonies that feign devotion to the Lord, and then to allow one’s parents to suffer without any help that could have been given to them.

This does not follow the heart of a God of mercy—it is man-made hypocrisy. Old Testament prophets often spoke against such practices. Jesus says nothing new here in exposing this kind of behavior. Isaiah had forcefully pressed this point centuries earlier when he distinguished between the Law of God and the commandments of men. Those who focus on the latter at the expense of the former misrepresent God and only pretend to serve Him when their hearts are very far from Him.

He then returns to the matter of unclean hands, the specific issue that the Pharisees had addressed. Our Lord indicates that the uncleanness that they need to concern themselves with is not the supposed outward uncleanness that comes from a lack of attention to ceremonial washing traditions. Instead, it is the inward uncleanness of sin that originates in our depraved hearts, an uncleanness which soon finds expression in our speech and our lives. This is the most serious problem of being unclean that we could ever have, and no amount of water-sprinkling will ever take such a deep problem away.

The disciples of Jesus were very concerned that the words of Christ had offended the Pharisees. It should be of far greater concern to all of us that we offend God when we give ourselves over to idolatry and man-made ceremonies. Jesus speaks plainly about the dead-end pathway of Pharisaic Judaism. It is not the way of life. It is the way of blind men leading other blind men, all the while pretending that they can see better than anyone else. One of the purposes of Christ in His ministry is to show to all that the way of the kingdom of God is very different than this.

In contrast to those who are so sure of their righteousness but are actually far from the kingdom, Matthew then relates the story of a Gentile woman, desperate for the mercy of Jesus Christ. At first it appears that she will be rejected precisely because of her Gentile heritage. Yet it quickly becomes clear that our Lord has only seemed to dismiss this woman, and His initial response has brought forth from her a wonderful humble statement of faith in Him. Yes, she knows that she belongs with the dogs, yet the dogs around the table of Jesus could certainly lick up the crumbs of the floor, and a crumb from the table of this Jewish Messiah is all that she would need that day. She finds not rejection but abundant mercy. She was not alone in finding help. Matthew tells us that there were many desperate people who received powerful healing as our Lord displayed His love and mercy to the weak.

Not only were their afflictions removed by the Messiah, but once again a large crowd of people found their needs supplied as the Lord gave bread to thousands. All of these miracles were great displays of the glory of Christ and the bounty of His coming kingdom. From whom does all this powerful help for the unworthy come? The God who extends mercy to us through His Son is not only a God of compassion—He is also a God of justice. The same Christ who healed the sick and who gave us glimpses of a much better day beyond the curse, was the Jesus who would fulfill all righteousness and later die as the perfect Lamb of God.

It is only from the blood of this Lamb that we can be truly clean. It is only from His great work of sacrificial love that we can know anything close to permanent healing. The proper attitude of the one who wishes this kind of extravagant blessing is not a proud insistence on some supposed claim of ceremonial righteousness, but a great cry of thanksgiving. Such praise can only come from the humble who are poor in spirit, who recognize they have no recommendation in themselves that could justify such a glorious redemption, and who see the great worth of even a crumb of mercy granted to us from the table of the Son of God.