Search for commentaries – Matthew 15

Ritual over Relationship
The Scribes and Pharisees joined forces and sent a delegation from Jerusalem to Galilee to investigate the ministry and teachings of Jesus and His disciples (v. 1). These religious leaders accused them of failing to observe the ceremonial washing of hands before eating (v. 2). Th …

The Persistant Gentile Woman
Jesus went into Tyre and Sidon, which is(present Lebanon) Gentile country (v. 21). As far as the Jews were concerned the Gentiles were “unclean” and they referred to them as “dogs”. Jesus wanted His disciples to have a compassion for Gentiles as well as Jews. …

Caring for the Gentile Crowd
Jesus leaves Tyre and Sidon and goes up into the hill country near the Sea of Galilee (v. 29). This seems to have been Gentile country in the region of the Decapolis. Decapolis included 10 cities that were a league that was authorized by the Romans to mint their own coins, …