15:1 {1} Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
(1) None commonly are more bold condemners of God, then they whom God has appointed keepers of his law.
15:1 Christ and the Pharisees. The Woman of Canaan.
SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 15:
Eating with Unwashed Hands. Keeping the Traditions of Men. What Defileth a Man. The Blind Leaders of the Blind. In the Bounds of Tyre and Sidon. The Appeal of the Woman of Canaan. Great Faith and Its Results. Feeding the Four Thousand.
Scribes and Pharisees... of Jerusalem. Representatives of these bodies, not doubt to counteract the influence of Christ. Compare Mr 7:1-13. These were always bitter opposers of Jesus.
15:1 Mark 7:1.
15:1-9 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.
