Introduction
In our Christian walk, we often see clearly in the Bible what the Lord teaches, yet we choose a different worldly path, even though we may have walked in faith for some time. While these choices may stem from genuine misunderstanding, they are often influenced more by our societal status, lifestyle, or environment. Many of us tend to embrace only the aspects of God’s Word that align with our lifestyles, desires, and expectations. When the Bible presents teachings that challenge us to change, we frequently struggle to accept them and may ignore them altogether.
In Matthew chapter 15, the Lord Jesus highlights the contrast between the proud and the humble: the proud in themselves, the Pharisees and the scribes, who call themselves righteous, versus the humble ones, the poor, the oppressed, and the Canaanite woman, who accept that they are nobody. We see two extremes: on one end, the Pharisees and scribes, who are the leaders of the house of Israel, accuse the Lord Jesus of many things, and on the other end, a simple Canaanite woman who is not part of the house of Israel but comes and acknowledges the Lord Jesus as the Son of God and begs Him for help. Here, we see that the Lord grants mercy to anyone who has a humble heart and simple faith in the Lord. The Lord Jesus has something important to say and show to each group of people in this chapter.
- The Pharisees and scribes. The Lord Jesus confronts the Pharisees and scribes for breaking the commandments of God and calls them hypocrites and blind guides, saying, “You have made void the commandment of God because of your tradition.”
- The disciples. The Lord Jesus teaches His disciples at every opportunity. He plainly tells His disciples that the Pharisees and scribes are blind leaders, and they should leave them alone and not follow them: “Let them alone; they are blind guides.”
- Multitudes of poor and suffering people. The Lord Jesus and the disciples minister to large crowds. The Lord Jesus shows His mercy and compassion on them by healing and feeding them: “I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with Me already three days and have nothing to eat; and I am not willing to send them away not eating, lest they faint on the way.”
- The Canaanite woman. This woman shows great faith and is humble in her heart and spirit. In conversing with her, the Lord Jesus says, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” implying that He went to this region to call His lost sheep. However, the Lord also shows that His love is extended to the Gentiles, for the few honest hearts who glorify the Lord. Thus, the Gentiles have been included in His mission.
In this blog article, we explore a simple question that the Lord Jesus posed to His disciples: “Are you also still without understanding?” while recounting the parable about what truly defiles a person.
The Parable of what Defiles a Person
In this section, we discuss Matthew 15:10-20, where the Lord Jesus shares a parable about what truly defiles a person. He clearly tells His disciples that the Pharisees and scribes are blind leaders, and they should leave them alone and not follow them: “Let them alone; they are blind guides.”
Matthew 15:10 And having call to Him the multitude, He said to them, Hear, and understand:
11 Not that which enters into the mouth defiles the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.
Comments Matthew 15:11. Note that the Lord gives this parable in response to the accusations against Him and His disciples regarding their eating without washing hands (see verse 2). Refer to verses 16 to 20 for the explanation of this parable.
12 Then came the disciples saying to Him, Do Thou know that the Pharisees were offended, having heard the saying?
13 But He answered saying, Every plant which My Heavenly Father planted not shall be rooted up.
Comments Matthew 15:13. “Every plant which My Heavenly Father planted not shall be rooted up” refers to those souls that have given themselves to the darkness. These are disobedient and misled souls who choose to follow the darkness rather than the light, and this will show through their deeds. But the Lord gives every soul a chance for repentance on this Earth through His Word because the Word is the true light, and this is the last chance for every soul. Remember that in the end times, the Word of God will judge them.
14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.
Comments Matthew 15:14. “Blind guides” here refers to Pharisees and scribes. For these days, the blind guides refer to those leaders of the church who do not seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead the people but instead use human doctrine to lead the house of God astray (see, for example, 2 Peter 3:16).
“The blind leads the blind.” For these days, the blind people who are led refer to those who come to the church seeking some sort of excitement, but not to worship the Lord from their hearts.
“Pit” or “ditch” refers to the palm of the evil one. In the spiritual world, the blind people refer to those souls that choose to follow the fallen angels instead of the true light of God.
15 Then answering Peter said to Him, Explain to us the parable.
16 And He said, Are you also still without understanding?
17 Perceive you not, that everything entering into the mouth passes into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
18 However, the things going forth out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and these defile the man.
19 For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slander.
20 These are what defile the person; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the person.
The Lord Jesus teaches us to have a clean heart and follow Him from our hearts, not just through our actions. We must examine our true motivations for calling ourselves Christians: are we doing it for personal gain, or is it because we genuinely love the Lord Jesus and desire to be with Him in His kingdom? We should be vigilant in following the teachings of the Lord Jesus, using the Word of God as our ultimate guide, rather than relying on man-made traditions or doctrines that cater to specific church denominations or leaders.
Conclusions
In this passage, we can understand that Peter sincerely sought to understand the meaning of the parable that the Lord presented to the Pharisees. So, the question every follower of the Lord Jesus must ask is why the Lord questioned the disciples in this instance, “Are you still without understanding?” However, when the beloved Son of God gives a parable in teaching to all humans, and here the disciple heard the Word but had not yet meditated, the Lord wants to remind the disciples and us, “Did you meditate yet and ask for understanding?” Every word the Lord speaks has meaning, not only in the physical but also in the spiritual. In the physical, the mind can understand, but in the spiritual, the heart needs to meditate and pray to gain a deeper understanding.
As followers of the Lord Jesus, we must read and meditate on the Word of God with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is essential to invite the Holy Spirit, in the name of the Lord Jesus, to guide us whenever we approach the Scriptures. Every word in the Bible carries deep spiritual significance that can only be understood with the help of the Holy Spirit, whom the Lord Jesus sends to all who seek and ask. We should follow the Bible as it truly teaches, rather than relying on the interpretations of some leaders based on their personal understanding. Always seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit and use the Bible as a standard for determining what is right and wrong. We must be doers of the Word of God, not just readers. It is important not to use the Bible to pursue our own desires and risk falling into the category of hypocrites.
The Lord looks deep into our hearts and judges the heart of a person (see Comments John 19:9). While we may speak good words, the Lord sees inside our hearts, and he can read our hearts louder than the words we say. We are all judged by what lies within our hearts. To cleanse our hearts, we must sincerely surrender to the will of the Lord Jesus and follow Him wholeheartedly. Therefore, we should go and be baptized in water, seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and read and meditate on the Word of God daily, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, if we are not already doing these things.
Meditation Tasks
- We encourage all readers to read chapter 15 of the Gospel of Matthew and reflect on the words that the Lord speaks to each group of people.
- Additionally, we encourage all readers to check out our article titled “How to Live a Christian Life Daily.”