March through Matthew in a Month:

Matthew 15

During the season of Lent in March 2026 we are marching on a daily faith journey with Jesus by reading through the Gospel of Matthew. May God strengthen our faith on this spiritual journey in His Holy Word.

Some Points to Ponder as we read Matthew 15:

1.   Lutheran Christians value tradition, but one of the primary points of the Protestant Reformation is that human traditions should NEVER trump nor be placed on par with God’s Word. Every human tradition we value as a Christian is simply a beneficial practice or something which helps us focus upon our Savior Jesus.

2. The Lutheran Study Bible provides insightful comments on Matthew 15:1-9, Jesus is dealing with questions of Law when He criticizes placing man-

made traditions above God’s Commandments. God Law and Gospel dare never be subordinated to human teachings and rules. Jesus came to fulfill every

aspect of the Law, that He might be our perfect Savior.

+Prayer+ Lord Jesus Christ, keep me faithful to Your Word, which is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Ps 119:105). Amen. (Lutheran Study Bible,

p.1603).

3. In Matthew 15:7 Jesus again uses the label “Hypocrites.” He had used it earlier in His Sermon on the Mount. Here he applies it for the first time

specifically, to the religious leaders. Not exactly the way to “win friends and influence people”—but the Truth hurts! Even as Christians, we can all be hypocrites at times and need to repent whenever our thoughts, words, and/or actions are not in harmony with God’s Word.

4. Matthew 15:30-31 is an excellent summary of the miracles Jesus performed which again show He fulfills all that the Prophet Isaiah said to expect in the days

of the Messiah (Isaiah 35:5-6).

5. In Matthew 15:32-39 Jesus again has compassion on hungry people. He performs another miracle of feeding a massive crowd of 4,000 men (and add women and children). Jesus fills our spirits and our stomachs with His blessings. Jesus provides in abundance for every area of our lives. The Greek Word used in verse 36 for when He breaks the bread and “gives thanks” is

EUCHARISTO, which is later used to refer to Holy Communion (which at times is known as “The Eucharist”).

APPLICATION Question: Do I ever elevate any of my human preferences or opinions or feelings or my love of any rites or rituals or traditions as if they were equal to the Word of God?

We now read Matthew 15…

Matthew 15 (ESV)

Traditions and Commandments

15 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” 3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?

4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say, ‘If anyone

tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” 6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have

made void the word of God. 7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:

8 “‘This people honors me with their lips,

   but their heart is far from me;

9 in vain do they worship me,

   teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

What Defiles a Person

10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of

the mouth; this defiles a person.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding?

17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman

21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was

crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said,

“Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you

as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Jesus Heals Many

29 Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there. 30 And great crowds came to him,

bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, 31 so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

32 Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” 33 And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” 34 And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” 35 And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the

disciples gave them to the crowds. 37 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 38 Those who ate

were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 And after sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.

+Prayer+  Dear Jesus, forgive me when I often act like a sinful hypocrite by saying one thing and doing another. Thank You for perfectly obeying and fulfilling God’s Law and granting me Your forgiveness and righteousness freely by Faith. In Christ’s Name I pray. Amen.