What is the meaning of Matthew 15:16? Do This opening word shows Jesus taking initiative. He is not waiting for the disciples to stumble onto truth but lovingly confronting them. Throughout the Gospels He often begins with a pointed question to reveal hearts (see John 6:67: “Do you want to leave too?”). By asking rather than merely lecturing, He invites response and growth, just as Proverbs 20:5 pictures wise counsel drawing out what is hidden. you The focus is personal and direct. Jesus speaks to His closest followers, those who had witnessed miracles such as the feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:17-21). That intimacy underscores accountability: greater exposure to truth brings greater responsibility (Luke 12:48). Bullet points on the significance: • Relationship—He addresses friends, not the crowd. • Expectation—disciples are expected to grasp lessons quicker than outsiders (Matthew 13:11). still This word signals that time and experience have gone by. They have repeatedly heard His teaching and seen His power, yet comprehension lags. Compare Mark 8:17-21, where He asks, “Do you still not see or understand?” The term highlights patient yet firm admonition, showing that persistent dullness is not excusable when revelation has been abundant. not The negative emphasizes a gap—what should be present is absent. In John 12:37, “Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him.” The same principle applies here: disbelief or misunderstanding after clear evidence exposes the heart more than the mind (Hebrews 3:12). understand? Comprehension in Scripture is more than mental grasp; it involves spiritual insight that births obedience (Psalm 119:34). Jesus wants them to perceive that defilement comes from the heart, not external rituals (Matthew 15:17-20). Without this insight, the disciples cannot lead others faithfully (Luke 6:39). Jesus asked The narrator reminds us who is speaking—the sovereign Lord whose questions carry authority and grace. Every inquiry from His lips is an invitation to repentance and deeper faith, echoing Genesis 3:9 (“Where are you?”) and Job 38:4 (“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?”). His questions expose, teach, and heal. summary Matthew 15:16 records Jesus’ gentle but firm rebuke to disciples slow to grasp His teaching on inner purity. Each word reveals His loving authority: He initiates (“Do”), addresses them personally (“you”), highlights lingering dullness (“still”), confronts their deficiency (“not”), seeks true insight (“understand?”), and stands as the divine Teacher (“Jesus asked”). The verse calls believers to move beyond surface observance to heart-level understanding, embracing the full light already given so our lives align with the truth we profess. |
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