Expositor's Dictionary of Texts Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Matthew 15:13If I had not had a hope fixed in me that this Cause and Business was of God, I would many years ago have run from it If it be of God, He will bear it up. If it be of man, it will tumble; as everything that hath been of man since the world began hath done. And what are all our Histories, and other Tradition of Actions in former times, but God manifesting Himself, that He hath shaken, and tumbled down, and trampled upon, everything that He had not planted? —Cromwell to the Parliament of 1655. References.—XV. 13.—F. D. Maurice, Lincoln's Inn Sermons, p. 1. G. Tyrrell, Oil and Wine, p. 170. Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. vii. No. 423. XV. 14.—H. Scott Holland, Church Times, vol. lvi. 1906, p. 285. XV. 18-31.—Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xlii. No. 2481. XV. 19.—Ibid. vol. xiii. No. 732. W. M. Sinclair, Christian World Pulpit, vol. xlvi. 1894, p. 328. XV. 21-28.—J. Laidlaw, The Miracles of Our Lord, p. 247. J. McNeill, British Weekly Pulpit, vol. ii. p. 369. Archbishop Trench, Notes on the Miracles of Our Lord, p. 280. W. M. Taylor, The Miracles of Our Saviour, p. 295. Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xlii. No. 2481; vol. xlii. No. 2446. Archer Butler, Sermons (1st Series), p. 201. Parker, Inner Life of Christ, vol. ii. p. 331. Kingsley, All Saints' Day, p. 76. Stopford Brooke, Spirit of Christian Life, p. 164. Stanford, Homilies on Christian Work, p. 133. Bruce, Galilean Gospel, p. 146. Guthrie, Way to Life, pp. 210 and 228. Laymen's Legacy, p. 208. Lynch, Sermons for my Curates, p. 317. Phillips Brooks, Sermons in English Churches, p. 157. C. Wordsworth, Sermons, vol. i. p. 109. Bishop Wilberforce, Four Sermons, p. 53. Pusey, Sermons, vol. ii. p. 167. W. F. Hook, On the Miracles, vol. ii. p. 33. XV. 21-31.—A. Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture—St. Matthew IX.-XVII. p. 314. XV. 21-39. Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xxxviii. No. 2253. XV. 22.—C. Silvester Home, Christian World Pulpit, vol. lxvi. 1904, p. 225. C. Leach, Mothers of the Bible, p. 95. XV. 22, 23.—Eugene Bersier, Twelve Sermons, p. 128. R. W. Hiley, A Year's Sermons, vol. i. p. 129. XV. 22-28.—Andrew Murray, The Children for Christ, p. 226. Matthew 15:22 I doubt whether she had inquired after Christ, if she had not been vexed with her daughter's spirit. Our afflictions are... the files and whetstones that set an edge on our devotions. —Bishop Hall. Divine Silence Matthew 15:23 Have you prayed? In what way have you prayed? Have any of your prayers been unmistakably answered? It is a curious fact that some persons never look for answers to their prayers, and they, of all persons, would be most astonished if God took them at their word and granted their request. Some people make mistakes in the requests they make to God. It is absolutely necessary for us to keep before; us one or two thoughts in connexion with prayer. Prayer in this way is a science just as much as any other sciences, and having just as many special laws. You may rest assured that any legitimate prayer is never left unanswered, but the answer may not perhaps be as our special desires dictate; in fact, we sometimes look for the answer to come in at the front door when it is already in the house by the back door. We have a wonderful illustration in connexion with the subject in the text—'He answered her not a word'. Has that been your experience? I. It is Just Possible that You Yourselves were not Ready for the Answer.—God may have seen that there was some rectification of character necessary. It may have been some inconsistency, some unworthiness, some selfishness, or even some secret sin that prevented God from answering. Here is a very good illustration. A man may be seen in a boat rowing, rowing, rowing, but the boat never moves. Why? Because the boat is anchored. The boat is floating on the surface of the water, yet the anchor holds it fast. That is the picture of a man's spiritual life. He may feel in his heart that he wants to know God, but finds his progress arrested because his real affections are fastened or anchored on to something of this world. He does not make progress, and God does not answer his prayers. II. It is Just Possible that Your Exterior Circumstances are not Ready for the Answer.—Take the case of Joseph when he was in prison. Joseph prayed that he might be delivered from the prison, but it pleased God to keep him there for a time that he might be a comfort to his fellow-prisoners. And so it may be with you. God may have His own reasons for not granting you some timely blessing at once. The circumstances may not be favourable; God may be dealing with some other member of your household at the same time; He has not completed His purpose, and the delay should not distress you or disturb you if you reflect that God may choose to confer His blessing in some special way. III. It is Just Possible that Circumstances have to be Rearranged and Readjusted to Bring Greater Benefits.—Take the case of Moses and his remarkable prayer when he besought the Lord to let him go over and see the good land which was beyond Jordan. Why did not God grant his request? Because he had something better in store for him. Was it not much better for Moses to see his Lord transfigured on the Mount than to cross over Jordan with the Israelites? There is the illustration of St. Paul when he prayed that a thorn in his flesh might be taken away from him. God did not answer his prayer. He had something better in store for him. He was going to give him more grace, and when St. Paul knew that, he said he would rather keep the thorn and have the grace. Then with regard to the woman in the text, the Lord gave her at first no encouragement whatever; but the delays and hindrances that He put in her path only increased her faith and made her more earnest and more determined to get that which she required, and she stands out as one of the great figures of all spiritual history. What a biography! only a verse or two, but the biography of a woman whose faith in the Redeemer could not be shaken. Her pleading became more earnest, and at last—may I say it?—the Lord is conquered by her, and then He praises her for her faith. References.—XV. 23.—W. H. Hutchings, Sermon-Sketches, p. 60. Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xlix. No. 2841. XV. 24, 26.—Ibid. vol. xxx. No. 1797. Matthew 15:25 Consider: it is not failing in this or that attempt of coming to Christ, but a giving over of your endeavours, that will be your ruin. —John Owen. References.—XV. 25.—Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xliv. No. 2597. M. Guy Pearse, Jesus Christ and the People, p. 142. XV. 26, 27.—H. H. Carlisle, Christian World Pulpit, vol. lxix. 1906, p. 268. Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xxii. No. 1309. Matthew 15:27 A retort quite Greek in its readiness, its symmetry, and its point! But it was not the intellectual merit of the answer that pleased the Master. Cleverness is cheap. It is the faith He praises, which was as precious as rare.... The quickness of her answer was the scintillation of her intellect under the glow of her affection. Love is the quickening nurse of the whole nature. —George Macdonald. References.—XV. 27.—W. P. Balfern, Lessons from Jesus, p. 69. Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xii. No. 715; vol. xxxvi. No. 2129. XV. 28.—E. B. Pusey, Parochial Sermons, vol. ii. p. 167. B. F. Westcott, The Historic Faith, p. 3. R. H. McKim, The Gospel in the Christian Year, p. 184. Henry Wace, Some Central Points of Our Lord's Ministry, p. 251. S. C. Malan, Plain Preaching for a Year, vol. i. p. 262. R. E. Hutton, The Crown of Christ, vol. ii. p. 509. A. G. Mortimer, One Hundred Miniature Sermons, vol. i. p. 182. Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xxxvi. No. 2173; vol. xxxviii. No. 2253; vol. xlii. No. 2446. XV. 29-38.—J. Laidlaw, The Miracles of Our Lord, p. 105. XV. 30, 31.—Walter Brooke, Sermons, pp. 125, 135. XV. 32.—B. Wilberforce, Christian World Pulpit, vol. li. 1897, p. 113. Hugh Black, ibid. vol. lxix. 1906, p. 189. XV. 32-39.—Archbishop Trench, Notes on the Miracles of Our Lord, p. 293. W. M. Taylor, The Miracles of Our Saviour, p. 307. XV. 33.—G. F. Browne, Christian World Pulpit, vol. liv. 1898, p. 161. J. A. Bain, Questions Answered by Christ, p. 34. James Denney, Gospel Questions and Answers, p. 61. XVI. 1-4.—H. Bremner, Christian World Pulpit, vol. liii. 1898, p. 87. C. Holland, Gleanings from a Ministry of Fifty Years, p. 246. Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.
And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.
And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:
Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.
Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?
And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.
And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.
And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.
And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala. Nicoll - Expositor's Dictionary of Texts Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission. Bible Hub |
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