📖 Passage

Matthew 15:1–20
Read Matthew 15:1–20 (NKJV)

🧠 Context & Background

In this section, Jesus confronts the Pharisees and scribes over their elevation of human traditions above God's Word. The dispute begins with ceremonial handwashing, which was a man-made ritual meant to signify purity but had no basis in Mosaic Law. Jesus exposes how their traditions nullify God's commands, using the example of Corban — dedicating resources to God to avoid caring for one's parents. He then teaches that true defilement comes from the heart, not from external contact or food. This radical statement challenged deeply ingrained cultural and religious assumptions in Judea and Galilee and pointed toward the deeper need for heart transformation.

🌿 Key Themes

• Authority of God's Word – Scripture takes precedence over human tradition.
• True Purity – Defilement is a matter of the heart, not outward ritual.
• Hypocrisy Exposed – Religious appearance can mask disobedience to God's commands.
• Heart Transformation – Only God can cleanse the inner person.

📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary

Matthew 15:1–6 – Tradition vs. Commandment

"You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men."

• Pharisaic Legalism – Elevating human tradition above God's law.
• Corban Loophole – Using religious vows to avoid God's command to honor parents.
• Moral Priority – God values obedience to His commands over ritualistic offerings.

Matthew 15:7–9 – Hypocrisy Rebuked

"This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me."

• Prophetic Condemnation – Isaiah's words apply to superficial worship.
• Heart Worship – True devotion begins inwardly, not in empty forms.

Matthew 15:10–14 – Teaching the Crowd

"It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person…"

• Radical Purity Teaching – Defilement is moral, not ceremonial.
• Religious Blindness – Leaders who reject God's truth lead others into destruction.

Matthew 15:15–20 – Explaining to the Disciples

"Out of the heart come evil thoughts…"

• Spiritual Diagnosis – Sin originates in the heart's desires and intentions.
• Need for New Birth – Cleansing requires transformation by God's Spirit.

🔍 Trusted Insight

R.C. Sproul observed, "We can appear clean before men while being utterly defiled before God. He looks at the heart, and the heart will always betray the reality of our devotion."

Summary: God measures purity by the heart, not the hands, calling His people to inward transformation.

🧩 Review Questions

1. Why did Jesus challenge the Pharisees' traditions so directly?
2. What does the Corban example reveal about the danger of religious loopholes?
3. How does this passage redefine the concept of defilement?
4. Why is the heart the true source of either purity or defilement?

🔍 Definitions

• Pharisees – A Jewish sect devoted to strict adherence to the Law and oral traditions.
• Corban – A vow dedicating something to God, sometimes used to avoid other obligations.
• Defilement – Spiritual impurity that separates one from God.
• Hypocrisy – Pretending to be righteous while harboring sin in the heart.

🙋 Application Questions

1. Are there traditions in your life or church that might obscure God's commands?

2. How can you guard against external religiosity while neglecting the heart?

3. What steps can you take to cultivate genuine heart purity before God?

🔤 Greek Keywords

• παράδοσις (paradosis) – Tradition handed down; here, human custom.
• κοινόω (koinoō) – To make common or unclean.
• καρδία (kardia) – The inner person, source of thoughts and motives.
• ὑποκριτής (hypokritēs) – One who acts a part; hypocrite.

📚 Cross References

• Isaiah 29:13 – Prophecy of lip service without heart devotion.

• Leviticus 19:3 – Command to honor parents.

• Mark 7:1–23 – Parallel account emphasizing heart purity.

• Proverbs 4:23 – Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

• Jeremiah 17:9 – The heart is deceitful above all things.

📦 Next Study

Next Study → Matthew 15:21–39