Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Matthew
Book: Matthew
Chapter: 15
Overview:
Jesus discourses about human traditions.
(1-9) He warns
against things which really defile.
(10-20) He heals the
Daughter of a
Syrophenician Woman.
(21-28) Jesus heals the sick,
and miraculously feeds four thousand.
(29-39)
1-9 Additions to
God's laws reflect upon his
Wisdom, as if he
had left out something which was needed, and which
Man could
supply; in one way or other they always lead men to disobey
God.
How thankful ought we to be for the written
Word of God! Never
let us think that the religion of the
Bible can be improved
By
any human addition, either in doctrine or practice. Our blessed
Lord spoke of their traditions as inventions of their own, and
pointed out one instance in which this was very clear, that of
their transgressing the fifth commandment. When a parent's wants
called for assistance, they pleaded, that they had devoted to
the
Temple all they could spare, even though they did not part
with it, and therefore their parents must expect nothing from
them. This was making the command of
God of
No effect. The doom
of hypocrites is
Put in a little compass; "In vain do they
Worship me." It will neither please
God, nor profit themselves;
they trust in vanity, and vanity will be their recompence.
10-20 Christ shows that the defilement they ought to fear, was
not from what entered their mouths as
Food, but from what came
out of their mouths, which showed the wickedness of their
hearts. Nothing will last in the soul but the regenerating
graces of the Holy
Spirit; and nothing should be admitted into
the
Church but what is from above; therefore, whoever is
offended
By a
Plain, seasonable declaration of the
Truth, we
should not be troubled at it. The disciples ask to be better
taught as to this matter. Where a weak head doubts concerning
any
Word of
Christ, an upright
Heart and a willing mind seek for
instruction. It is the
Heart that is desperately wicked, Jer
17:9, for there is
No Sin in
Word or deed, which was not first
in the
Heart. They all come out of the
Man, and are fruits of
that wickedness which is in the
Heart, and is wrought there.
When
Christ teaches, he will show men the deceitfulness and
wickedness of their own hearts; he will teach them to humble
themselves, and to seek to be cleansed in the
Fountain opened
for
Sin and uncleanness.
21-28 The dark corners of the country, the most remote, shall
share
Christ's influences; afterwards the ends of the
Earth
shall see his
Salvation. The distress and trouble of her family
brought a
Woman to
Christ; and though it is need that drives us
to
Christ, yet we shall not therefore be driven from him. She
did not limit
Christ to any particular instance of
Mercy, but
Mercy,
Mercy, is what she begged for: she pleads not merit, but
depends upon
Mercy. It is the duty of parents to pray for their
children, and to be
Earnest in
Prayer for them, especially for
their souls. Have you a son, a
Daughter, grievously vexed with a
proud
Devil, an unclean
Devil, a malicious
Devil, led
Captive By
him at his will? this is a case more deplorable than that of
bodily possession, and you must bring them
By Faith and
Prayer
to
Christ, who alone is able to heal them. Many methods of
Christ's
Providence, especially of his
Grace, in dealing with
his people, which are dark and perplexing, may be explained
By
this story, which teaches that there may be
Love in
Christ's
Heart while there are frowns in his
Face; and it encourages us,
though he seems ready to slay us, yet to trust in him. Those
whom
Christ intends most to honour, he humbles to feel their own
unworthiness. A proud, unhumbled
Heart would not have borne
this; but she turned it into an argument to support her request.
The state of this
Woman is an emblem of the state of a sinner,
deeply conscious of the misery of his soul. The least of
Christ
is precious to a believer, even the very crumbs of the
Bread of
Life. Of all graces,
Faith honours
Christ most; therefore of all
graces
Christ honours
Faith most. He cured her
Daughter. He
spake, and it was done. From hence let such as seek help from
the
Lord, and receive
No gracious answer, learn to turn even
their unworthiness and discouragements into pleas for
Mercy.
29-39 Whatever our case is, the only way to find ease and
relief, is to lay it at
Christ's feet, to submit it to him, and
refer it to his disposal. Those who would have spiritual healing
from
Christ, must be ruled as he pleases. See what work
Sin has
made; what various diseases human bodies are subject to. Here
were such diseases as fancy could neither guess the cause nor
the cure of, yet these were subject to the command of
Christ.
The spiritual cures that
Christ Works are wonderful. When
Blind
souls are made to see
By Faith, the
Dumb to speak in
Prayer, the
maimed and the lame to walk in holy obedience, it is to be
wondered at. His power was also shown to the multitude, in the
plentiful provision he made for them: the manner is much the
same as before. All did eat, and were filled. Those whom
Christ
feeds, he fills. With
Christ there is
Bread enough, and to
spare; supplies of
Grace for more than seek it, and for those
that seek for more.
Christ sent away the people. Though he had
fed them twice, they must not look for miracles to find their
daily
Bread. Let them go home to their callings and their own
Tables.
Lord, increase our
Faith, and
Pardon our unbelief,
teaching us to live upon thy
Fulness and bounty, for all things
pertaining to this
Life, and that which is to come.