Matthew 15:1-20 OPPOSITION CONTINUES v.1. A group of Pharisees deliberately come to oppose the Lord v.2. There is a stated difference between them. The Pharisees held ceremonial washing to be of great importance. This idea came from an old tradition of a demon sitting on their hands at night and then moving to sit on their food and making it dangerous. They had added to the law of God a tradition of the elders. v.3. The Lord directly answers the Pharisees and vindicate His disciple (“ye also”) by charging them for breaking the law of God. v.4-9. He illustrates them breaking God’s commandment by using a mystic word “Corban” that they said meant it is a gift to God. Therefore, they do not need to use their means to meet the needs of their parents. Lesson: Traditions of men may cause a break in one’s relationship with God. Lesson: It is possible to appear to honor God in words and one’s heart be far away from God. v.10-11. Now the Lord calls the multitude and condemns external religion and affirms the importance of a person’s heart being right with God.
Lesson: The things that come from our essential being can defile us – what to eat or what not to eat; what to wear or what not to wear; what to do or what not to do – these things are trivialities. Lesson: If we think observing rules that deal only with the physical make us spiritual, we have missed the whole point of our Christianity. v.12-20. The disciples apparently were concerned because the Pharisees were offended. The Lord allows no excuse for error no matter who commits it. The systems of men will not stand the test of God’s judgment. The whole idea of man’s religion is in opposition to God’s revealed will. If there is spiritual life, there will be spiritual purity. We respond in love to Christ because He is our King and we honor and obey His word – not man’s traditions. Lesson: We must be careful lest traditions bind us and harm us to the extent that warmth and love are not in evidence when we worship and serve our Lord Lesson: Religious practices can actually separate us from God – even the Lord’s Supper done as a tradition can bar communion with the Lord Jesus Christ. Lesson: Cultivate inward spirituality and it will eliminate the externals that negatively affect our worship of the Lord. v.21-31. The Lord turns His back on those who opposed Him and goes to a region long under the curse of God. The woman was considered an outcast by the Jews but was willing to act in faith. The Lord Jesus extends the benefits of His kingdom to those we may overlook. In the feeding of 4000 event he word “basket” has a larger meaning here than the personal “basket” of chapter 14. Lesson: The blessings of the kingdom of God reach to all who are willing to believe in Christ. Lesson: We must not overlook those we may think are not worthy of salvation.