Matthew 15 Summary - Quick Bible Study

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MATTHEW 15 SUMMARY IN 5 MINUTES

• WHEN:

  • The birth of Jesus probably occurred around 4 B.C..

  • From Luke 3:23, we know Jesus began His ministry when He was about 30 years old.

  • This would place the events of Jesus’ ministry roughly between 26-31 A.D..

• CHARACTERS:

  • Jesus - The Messiah. The Son of God.

  • Disciples - Jesus’ followers and students.

  • Pharisees and Scribes - Jesus’ critics who accused Him of breaking the traditions.

  • Canaanite Woman - She asked Jesus to help her demon oppressed daughter.

  • The 4,000+ - Jesus healed the sick and miraculously fed 4,000+ people.

• WHERE:

  • Jesus’ interaction with the Pharisees and scribes likely occurred around the area of Gennesaret, where chapter 14 concluded. Gennesaret was a fertile plain stretching 3.5 miles long and 1.5 miles wide on the Northwest side of Galilee between Capernaum and Tiberius (Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Gospels).

  • Jesus met the Canaanite woman in the “district of Tyre and Sidon” (Matt 15:21).

  • The location of the feeding of the 4,000+ was on a mountain near the Sea of Galilee, but the specific mountain is not named.

• OUTLINE:

  • HAND WASHING AND HYPOCRISY (15:1-15:9):

    • The Pharisees and scribes accused Jesus’ disciples of breaking the traditions of the elders by not ceremonially washing their hands.

    • Jesus asked them why they kept the traditions but broke God’s laws.

    • They used the traditions to excuse themselves from keeping God’s commands, specifically the command for children to honor their parents.

    • Jesus said they honored God with their words, but not with their hearts.

  • WHAT DEFILES A PERSON? (15:10-15:20):

    • Jesus taught that men are not defiled by what they eat.

    • It is not what goes into the body that is important.

    • Food is eaten, digested, and discarded.

    • What flows from the heart and is spoken through a person’s mouth is what reveals his/her true character.

  • A CANAANITE WOMAN ASKS JESUS FOR HELP (15:21-15:28):

    • While in the region of Tyre and Sidon, a Canaanite woman asked Jesus to help her demon oppressed daughter.

    • Jesus told her His ministry was directed towards the Jews, not the Canaanites.

    • After asking again, with great faith and humility, Jesus granted her request.

    • He commended her, saying, “Oh woman, great is your faith!”

  • JESUS HEALS THE SICK AND FEEDS 4,000+ (15:29-15:39):

    • Jesus went up on a mountain near the Sea of Galilee.

    • Crowds of sick people came to Him and He healed them all.

    • Jesus wanted to feed the people because they were hungry.

    • He used 7 loaves of bread and a few small fish to miraculously feed the crowd.

    • After the 4,000+ people ate, 7 baskets of leftovers were picked up.

• BIG PICTURE:

  • This chapter highlights a major teaching theme of the Old and New Testament.

  • God is pleased when men give Him their hearts.

  • God is not fooled by those who practice religion externally but are internally corrupt.

  • The heart is what matters to God.

  • If the heart is properly aligned, godly external actions will follow.

• APPLICATION:

  • This chapter highlights a major teaching theme of the Old and New Testament.

  • God is pleased when men give Him their hearts.

  • God is not fooled by those who practice religion externally but are internally corrupt.

  • The heart is what matters to God.

  • If the heart is properly aligned, godly external actions will follow.