Matthew 15

4. If there be but one God, then we must pray to none but God. The Papists pray to saints and angels: 1. To saints; a Popish writer says, When we pray to the saints departed, they being touched with compassion, say the like to God for us, as the disciples did to Christ for the C…

If we pour out sighs to heaven, God hears every groan; though he does not show us his face, he may lend us his ear. 2. Faith may be strongest when assurance is weakest; the woman of Canaan had no assurance, but a glorious faith, O Woman, Great is your faith (Matthew 15:28). Rach…

There are the seeds of all atheism and blasphemy. The heart is the Trojan horse, out of which a whole army of sin comes (Matthew 15:9): "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries — these defile a man." If a branch of wormwood be so bitter, then how bitter is th…

Keep your heart with all keeping. Every one has a tempter in his own bosom (Matthew 15:19). Out of the heart come evil thoughts.

And hence we learn, that in time of peace, all those that are called to the office of the ministry, must (if it be possible) spend their labor publicly, so as they may do most good. Secondly whereas Christ says, he preached in their synagogues and temple, which at that time were…

What made Christ admire the woman of Canaan, but her graces! Great is your faith (Matthew 15:28). Christ was more taken with that, than with all the goodly buildings of the Temple.

These thoughts being once made up into affections are quickly made out into suitable actions and practices. If the heart be wicked, then as Christ says (Matthew 15:19), 'Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, etc.' Mark the order: first, wanton or revengefu…

Not to walk in darkness, nor hate our brother (1 John 2:8, 9), for this is the new commandment. And that the Gospel has commandments is clear (Matthew 15:3; John 15:12; Romans 16:6; Ephesians 6:2; 1 Timothy 1:1; the holy commandment, 2 Peter 2:21; 1 John 3:23; Revelation 22:14;…

We, praying according to God's will, shall find acceptance according to our will. Notable is that speech of encouragement and acceptance of our Saviour to the woman of Syrophenicia (Matthew 15:28): O woman, great is your faith, be it to you even as you will. She had prayed as Ch…

But besides this confident persuasion this follows, there is another work of faith, and that is a constant wrestling against all discouragements that falls between our requests, and the accomplishment of our petitions. Famous is that story of the woman of Syrophenicia (Matthew 1…

2. In possessions, which were frequent and rife in Christ's time. My daughter is sorely vexed with a devil (Matthew 15:22). Or,

God knows the fittest season, and delights oftentimes to show our impatience, and try our faith. (Matthew 15:28): O woman, great is your faith. And that his help may not be ascribed to chance, or our industry; and that we may the more prize blessings, consider you cannot be more…

Fear is for inward worship, serve is for outward worship, and the profession of the same. Fear in Moses is expounded worship by Christ; so (Matthew 15:9) compared with (Isaiah 29:13). In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, but in the Prophet…

It teaches them three lessons: comfort, patience, obedience. 1. Comfort and encouragement to them that are under a gloomy day, this will not always last; he may try you for a while and you may be under great conflicts, and wants, and difficulties, as he tried the Woman of Canaan…

For the disciples were forbidden to go into the way of the Gentiles (Matthew 10:5). And Christ says, that he was not sent, but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 15:22). It may be objected, that here we see the difference of Jews, and Gentiles, is standing, long a…

God requires this importunity of us (Luke 18:1). It is practiced by David (Psalm 69:4), by the woman of Canaan (Matthew 15). We must do as Jacob did, wrestle with God, and give him no rest till he fulfills the desires of our hearts, and gives us the blessing.

God must not be displeased though all men be displeased (Acts 5:29). Indeed Christ pronounces woe against them by whom offences come: but that is meant of offences given, and not of offences taken: of which Christ has another rule (Matthew 15:14): Let them alone, they are the bl…

The Prophet then comprehends all the other parts of God's worship, whereby hypocrites are wont to counterfeit and deceive, for they are every way bent to lying and vanity. We need seek no better expositor of these words than Jesus Christ, who upon the speech of washing of hands,…

Every one of us also ought to apply to himself in particular that which is here said of the whole Church in general: for we were planted of God before the foundations of the world (Ephesians 1:4), and afterward incorporated and called, to the end we might have assurance of our e…

They are blind, says he, and leaders of the blind. Will you wittingly perish together with them? (Matthew 15:14). For this cause the Prophet commands that such authority be given to the word of God, to the end we may boldly despise the whole world, if they should gainsay it; for…

When he adds, that those which are led, are devoured: although by this particle his meaning is to say, that wicked princes, and those who rule as they please, cannot but bring all things to ruin: as also because the teachers deceive and abuse the people, instead of showing them…

It ought to be understood, that dogs and swine are names given not to every kind of debauched men, or to those who are destitute of the fear of God and of true godliness, but to those who, by clear evidences, have manifested a hardened contempt of God, so that their disease appe…

41. And wept over it. As there was nothing which Christ more ardently desired than to execute the office which the Father had committed to him, and as he knew that the end of his calling was to gather the lost sheep of the house of Israel, (Matthew 15:24,) he wished that his com…

Matthew 15:1-9 1. Then scribes and Pharisees, who had come from Jerusalem, approach to Jesus, saying, 2. Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

Matthew 15:10-20 10. And having called the multitudes to him, he said to them, Hear and understand.

Matthew 15:21-28 21. And Jesus departing from there withdrew into the territories of Tyre and Sidon.

Matthew 15:29-39 29. And Jesus departing thence, came near the sea of Galilee, and he went up into the mountain, and sat down there.

If Christ pronounces it to be not only lawful, but even proper, to reject whatever of their own the scribes mingle with the pure doctrine of the Law, certainly we are not bound to embrace, without discrimination or the exercise of judgment, whatever they are pleased to enjoin. B…

The Woman of Canaan submitted to Christ, in his saying, It is not meet to take the Children's Bread, and to cast it to Dogs, and did as it were own that she was worthy to be called a Dog, whereupon Christ said unto her, O Woman, great is thy Faith; be it unto thee, even as thou…

Section 1. Another argument for the necessity of holiness may be taken from the consideration of our present state and condition — by holiness alone is the vicious distemper of our natures cured; our nature being fearfully and universally depraved by the entrance of sin, the min…

If the heart rises against the act or judgment of God, in holding us obliged to the punishment, when he offers us his Son as a Savior from the punishment, we cannot with the consent of the heart receive him in that character: but if persons thus submit to the righteousness of so…

In the fourth chapter of Matthew, verse 10, Christ says to the Devil, It is written you shall worship the Lord your God, and him only you shall serve; compare this with (Deuteronomy 6:13), and there you shall have it thus expressed, You shall fear the Lord your God; that which i…

Let therefore then that fear the LORD, put their trust in him: for he is their help and defense, and think, indeed be assured, this kind of worship to be nothing but a device and imagination of men only, the which are idle and vain as says Jeremiah in the 10th chapter. And Chris…

4. Faith working by love, is a most gallant, and holy daring thing, bold in its enterprises to pursue after, to grip, and stick to Christ over all difficulties (as may be seen in her former carriage) and most successful as to the event. 5. The more steadily and stoutly, with lov…

And he affirms that this is good and acceptable before God. And therefore we find our Saviour sharply reprehending that unnatural doctrine among the Scribes and Pharisees, which dispensed with children from the relief of their parents (Matthew 15:5-6): You say, Whoever shall say…

Certainly did we but rightly weigh what is required as a part of worship, and what only as a circumstance of worship, a great deal of heat, and contention, and uncharitable prejudice would be removed and prevented. It is true our Saviour (Matthew 15:9) condemns the Scribes and P…

And therefore (as I told you) the wisdom of God has set this commandment in the last place, as a fence and guard to all the rest; You shall not covet; and then certainly, you shall not kill, nor steal, nor commit adultery, nor bear false witness; but be kept pure from all outwar…

Tophet is ordained of old, for the king it is prepared, he has made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood, and the breath of the Lord like a stream of brimstone does kindle it. The fire of London burnt the houses of the city, and consumed much of the goods; b…

If Men act according to their own Humors and Fancies, and do not keep in the Way of Obedience, it is Presumption to expect God's Blessing. Matthew 15:9 In vain do they Worship me, teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men. But when they are admitted to the Lord's Supper tha…

And thus the tree is known by its fruits. This light must shine, that others may see the good works of it, and hear the good words of it too, not to glorify us, but to glorify our Father (Matthew 15:16), we should study to appear in all our converse, so mild, and gentle, and pea…

So that whatever abominations are in the hearts and lives of the vilest Sodomites, and most profligate Wretches under Heaven; there is the same matter in your heart out of which they were shaped and formed. In the depths of the heart they are conceived, and from there they crawl…

Now what consequence is this; Some children have been God's ministers in executing just punishment on their wicked parents, therefore children may enter into such places as shall exempt them from helping any parents, though well deserving? 3. The Levites had an express charge fo…

2. We may suppose him enquiring after some shorter and more compendious way to Eternal Life, by practicing some one or two extraordinary Instances of Duty, and thereby to atone for the neglect of the rest. This was an Error that prevailed among the Pharisees in our Savior's Time…

But because it purifies the soul, therefore it is that which does purify all. There begins impurity (Matthew 15): not only evil thoughts, but all evil actions come forth from the heart, which is there all one with the soul, and therefore this purifying begins there, makes the tr…

1. If there were no Devil to tempt us, yet the heart of man is fruitful enough of all that is evil. (Matthew 15:19) Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witnesses, blasphemies. There's a black catalogue, and all comes out of th…

As all rivers they run from the sea, and they discharge themselves into the sea again; so let all be returned to God with thankfulness, with acknowledgments that you have received them from God. I shall urge it with one example; Jesus Christ, though he were heir, Lord of all thi…

So that every word we speak to God, is a lesson to us, and our requests are as so many exhortations to glorify his holy name: with what face can we ask that which we are wholly reckless and neglectful of. Then we shall certainly come under that character (Matthew 15:7-8): This p…

All carnal men, however they defy Satan, and abominate the thoughts of serving him, yet while they remain in their sin and ignorance, they still hold the crown upon the Devil's head. Look as God's subjects may own him in verbal pretense, yet their hearts may be far from him (Mat…

Now if we would manifest our prayers to be real, we should labor to perform the same, otherwise we are but like those soldiers which spat upon Christ, and buffeted him, yet cried, Hail, King of the Jews; so it is but a mockage to say, Your will be done, yet have no care to do it…

Therefore let the papists triumph over their worship as much as they wish, and follow their foolish opinions, not content with God's wisdom; but it is certain that they both obscure and pervert the entire worship of God. For this reason our Lord Jesus Christ, in Matthew 15, repr…