What is the meaning of Matthew 15:10? Jesus called the crowd to Him • The initiative is entirely the Lord’s; He gathers people so they can receive truth (cf. Matthew 11:28–29; Mark 7:14, the parallel account). • By summoning “the crowd,” Jesus moves the spotlight from a private debate with Pharisees (15:1–9) to a public teaching moment, showing that the lesson about genuine purity is meant for everyone, not just religious leaders (cf. Isaiah 55:1). • His action pictures grace: sinners do not stumble upon life-giving words; Christ actively draws them (John 12:32). and said • The verb underscores authority—when Jesus speaks, heaven’s verdict is pronounced (Matthew 7:29; John 6:63). • He speaks plainly, not in parables this time, because the issue of inner versus outer defilement must be unmistakable (cf. John 18:20). • What He says will overturn human tradition that had eclipsed God’s intent (Matthew 15:3, 6). “Listen and understand.” • Two commands: – Listen—give undivided attention; stop letting noise drown out truth (Proverbs 2:2). – Understand—grasp the meaning, let it sink in until it shapes conviction (James 1:22). • The pair recalls Deuteronomy 6:4 (“Hear, O Israel”) where hearing leads to wholehearted obedience. Jesus is reclaiming that original call. • By coupling these imperatives, He signals that external rituals are worthless unless the heart comprehends and responds (1 Samuel 15:22; Hosea 6:6). • In the verses that follow (15:11, 17-20), He will explain that real defilement arises from the heart, not from unwashed hands or dietary minutiae—truth that frees the conscience (Acts 10:15; Romans 14:17). summary Matthew 15:10 shows Jesus taking charge, gathering an audience, and issuing a double command: “Listen and understand.” He invites ordinary people to receive divine revelation, speaks with sovereign authority, and insists that genuine purity is an inner matter grasped by attentive, obedient hearts. |
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