Matthew 15:20

Mat 15:20. Οὐ κοινοῖ τὸν ἄνθρωπον, do not defile the man) In the very appellation of man, is contained (latet) an argument: for the spiritual nature, which is the superior part in man, is not reached by outward filth.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Mat 15:20 . mphatic final reassertion of the doctrine.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

20. These are the things that defile the man. But to eat with unwashen hands does not defile the man.] Mk. has: “All these evil things go out from within and defile the man.”1

Cf. Buddhist and Christian Gospels, p. 93: “Destroying life, killing, cutting, binding, stealing, speaking lies, fraud and deceptions, worthless reading, intercourse with another’s wife —this is defilement, but not the eating of flesh.”

D.—15:21-18:35 = Mar 7:24-50

Further ministry in and on the outskirts of Galilee. A period marked by Christ’s teaching about His death and resurrection.

The phrase ἐκεῖθεν δὲ ἀναστάς in Mar 7:24 marks the beginning of a new period in that Gospel. Cf. ἐκεῖθεν ἀναστάς at the beginning of the next development, Mar 10:1. Christ had hitherto worked in or near Capharnaum amongst the multitudes who thronged to Him. He now enters upon a period of travel on the outskirts of Galilee. It is true that we read of Him at Capharnaum, but He no longer publicly taught there, Mar 9:30, Mar 9:33; and instead of preaching to the common people, He now devoted Himself to instructing His disciples on the subject of His death and resurrection, Mar 8:31, 9:Mar 8:10-12, Mar 8:31-32. In Mt. the long and purposeless journeys are curtailed, cf. 15:29 with Mar 7:31, and it might seem as though the editor intended to enter upon a new section of his Gospel at 16:21 ἀπὸ τότε, κ.τ.λ., cf. 4:17. But even in 4:17 this phrase does not stand at the very beginning of the section which it opens, 4:12-15:20, and it is convenient to retain in Mt. as in Mk. the grouping: Mat 4:12-20 = Mar 1:14-23, work in or near Capernaum; Mat 15:20-35=Mar 7:24-50, work outside Galilee marked by a new phase in Christ’s teaching; Mat 19:1-31=Mar_10, journey to Jerusalem; Mt 21-28=Mk 11-16:8, last days of the Messiah’s life.

(M)

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man--Thus does our Lord sum up this whole searching discourse.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 20. These - defile a man] Our Lord's argument is very plain. What goes into the mouth descends into the stomach and other intestines; - part is retained for the nourishment of the body, and part is ejected, as being improper to afford nourishment. Nothing of this kind defiles the soul, because it does not enter into it; but the evil principles that are in it, producing evil thoughts, murders, &c., these defile the soul, because they have their seat and operation in it.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

These are the things which defile a man,.... These are filthy in themselves, and must pollute all in whom they are; they bring a defilement on the whole man, both body and soul, fasten guilt upon him, and expose him to everlasting punishment:

but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man: should a man neglect to wash his bands before eating a common meal, this need give him no uneasiness; he contracts no filth to his soul hereby, nor any guilt to his conscience; nor does he break any law of God; nor is he liable to any penalty for such an omission. This is a trifling matter, and merits no regard; but the things before mentioned are in their nature evil: they are contrary to the law of God; they are abominable in his sight; they render men loathsome and odious to the divine being; and expose them to shame and ruin; and it is only the blood of Christ can cleanse them from the pollution and guilt of them, and secure them from that punishment they deserve.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Ver. 20. These are the things which defile a man] Make him a loathsome leper in God’s sight, his heart being a filthy dunghill of all abominable vices, his life a long chain of sinful actions, a very continued web of wickedness. And whereas repentance is the soul’s vomit, and confession the spunge that wipes out all the blots and blurs of our lives, that cunning manslayer holds the lips close that the heart may not disburden itself by so wholesome evacuation, and doth what he can to hinder the birth of repentance, that fair and happy daughter of an ugly and odious mother, sin. {a}

{a} εχθρου πατρος φιλτατον τεκνον.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

20. These are the things — Not all the things, but plentiful specimens of them. There is a strong analogy between physical and moral defilement, which forms the basis of much of the emblems and types of the Scripture system. But it is the pushing this analogy to a superstitious extent which produced the tradition about unwashen hands which our Lord here so forcibly condemns.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Thus Jesus sums up what has been said, and recalls the circumstance which led to the discourse, emphatically repeating his judgment on the Pharisaical gloss.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.