HarperCollins Study Bible

by Harold W. Attridge

  8‘This people honors me with their lips,

  but their hearts are far from me;

  9in vain do they worship me,

  teaching human precepts as doctrines.’”

  Things That Defile

  10Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand: 11it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.” 12Then the disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” 13He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind.e And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.” 15But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” 16Then he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? 18But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. 19For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. 20These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.”

  The Canaanite Woman’s Faith

  21Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” 23But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” 24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” 27She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

  Jesus Cures Many People

  29After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down. 30Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, 31so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.

  Feeding the Four Thousand

  32Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.” 33The disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?” 34Jesus asked them, “How many loaves have you?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” 35Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 38Those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39After sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.f

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  a Other ancient authorities read commanded, saying

  b Or is an offering

  c Other ancient authorities add or the mother

  d Other ancient authorities read law; others, commandment

  e Other ancient authorities lack of the blind

  f Other ancient authorities read Magdala or Magdalan

  15.1–9 Cf. Mk 7.1–13.

  15.1 Pharisees. See note on 3.7. Scribes. See note on 2.4.

  15.2 Tradition of the elders, the Pharisees’ traditional interpretation of the Israelite law, passed on orally and believed by them to have been given with the written law on Mount Sinai. The latter does not require Israelites to wash their hands before they eat (cf. Ex 30.17–21; Lev 15.11).

  15.4 For the first command, see Ex 20.12; Deut 5.16; for the second, see Lev 20.9.

  15.7 Hypocrites, here for the first time used to address opponents directly (cf. 6.1–18; see note on 7.5; 23.13–36).

  15.8–9 Isa 29.13. Hearts. See note on 5.8.

  15.10–20 Cf. Mk 7.14–23.

  15.10 Crowd. See note on 4.25. Listen and understand. See 13.10–23, 43; Introduction.

  15.11 See Gospel of Thomas 14. What goes into the mouth. See v. 2. It was widely debated in the early churches whether Israelite dietary laws were binding on those who believed in Jesus as Messiah; see Acts 10.14–15; Rom 14.19–21; Gal 2.11–14. What comes out of the mouth. See, e.g., 5.21–26, 33–37. Defiles, makes ritually unclean.

  15.12 Pharisees. See note on 3.7. Took offense. See note on 13.21.

  15.13 A plant was a common metaphor for righteous Israel; see Isa 60.21; 1 Enoch 10.16; Jubilees 1.16. My heavenly Father. See note on 6.9.

  15.14 Blind guides. See 23.16, 24; cf. Rom 2.19; Gospel of Thomas 34.

  15.15 Peter. See note on 14.28.

  15.16 Without understanding. Cf. note on 13.1–53.

  15.17 Sewer, possibly “latrine.”

  15.18 Heart. See note on 5.8.

  15.19 A vice list, widespread in ancient moral discourse (see, e.g., 1 Cor 6.9–10; Gal 5.19–21; Didache 5.1).

  15.21–28 Cf. Mk 7.24–30. A pivotal story about women; see note on 9.18–26.

  15.21 That place, probably Gennesaret (see 14.34). District of Tyre and Sidon, gentile territory (see 11.21).

  15.22 Canaanite, a scriptural term for ancient Israel’s pagan enemies (see, e.g., Deut 7.1; cf. Mk 7.26) here used to designate a Gentile. Woman. See notes on 9.18–26; 27.55. The Canaanite woman is doubly marginal, a woman and a Gentile. Lord. See note on 7.21. Have mercy…Son of David. See note on 9.27.

  15.24 Lost sheep of the house of Israel, either a group within Israel or all of Israel (see also 9.36; 10.6; cf. 28.19).

  15.25 She…knelt, implying worship (see note on 2.2). Lord, help me. Cf. notes on 9.27; 14.30.

  15.26 Children, the Israelites (see, e.g., Deut 14.1; Isa 1.2).

  15.27 The woman persists, controlling the action. Dogs, lit. “small dogs,” i.e., puppies or house dogs, but still a very uncomplimentary term, often used for Gentiles or opponents (cf. Phil 3.2). Masters’, lit. “lords’” (see note on 7.21).

  15.28 For another Gentile’s faith, see 8.10. Healed instantly. See note on 8.3.

  15.29–31 Cf. Mk 7.31–37. A major healing summary (see note on 4.23–25).

  15.29 Mountain. See note on 4.8. He sat down. See note on 5.1.

  15.30 See 8.17; 11.5.

  15.31 They praised the God of Israel. The description of the crowd’s response suggests that they were not Israelites, but Jesus has returned to Israelite territory (v. 29).

  15.32–39 Cf. Mk 8.1–10; Jn 6.1–13. The second feeding miracle; see 14.13–21.

  15.32 Compassion. See note on 9.36. Three. See note on 1.2–6a.

  15.34, 37 Seven, a favorite number of the author (see note on 12.45), here perhaps symbolizing Gentiles (cf. 14.19–20; see Acts 6.1–6).

  15.36 See note on 14.19.

  15.38 Besides women and children. See note on 14.21; cf. Mk 8.9.

  15.39 Magadan. Location unknown; it may be Magdala/Magdalan on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee (text note a); cf. 27.56, 61; 28.1.

  MATTHEW 16

  The Demand for a Sign

  1The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesusa they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.b 4An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except
the sign of Jonah.” Then he left them and went away.

  The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

  5When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6Jesus said to them, “Watch out, and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7They said to one another, “It is because we have brought no bread.” 8And becoming aware of it, Jesus said, “You of little faith, why are you talking about having no bread? 9Do you still not perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11How could you fail to perceive that I was not speaking about bread? Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!” 12Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

  Peter’s Declaration about Jesus

  13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah,c the Son of the living God.” 17And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you, you are Peter,d and on this rocke I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he wasf the Messiah.g

  Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

  21From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” 23But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

  The Cross and Self-Denial

  24Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

  27“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. 28Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

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  a Gk him

  b Other ancient authorities lack 2When it is…of the times

  c Or the Christ

  d Gk Petros

  e Gk petra

  f Other ancient authorities add Jesus

  g Or the Christ

  16.1–4 Cf. Mk 8.11–13; Lk 12.54–56. See 12.38–42.

  16.1 Pharisees and Sadducees. See note on 3.7. The desire to test suggests hostile intent (see, e.g., 4.1;12.14; 19.3; 22.15, 35).

  16.2–3 See Gospel of Thomas 91. Signs of the times. See 11.3–5; see also 24.3.

  16.4 See 12.38–42.

  16.5–12 Cf. Mk 8.14–21; Lk 12.1.

  16.5 Only disciples are present with Jesus through 17.14.

  16.6 Yeast, here a metaphor for evil influence (see v. 12; cf. 13.33).

  16.8 Little faith. See note on 6.30.

  16.9 Do you still not perceive? See note on 15.16; cf. Mk 8.17–18. The five thousand. See 14.13–21.

  16.10 The four thousand. See 15.32–39. Seven. See note on 12.45.

  16.12 They understood. See note on 13.1–53.

  16.13–20 Cf. Mk 8.27–30; Lk 9.18–21.

  16.13 Caesarea Philippi, a city twenty miles north of the Sea of Galilee. Son of Man. See note on 8.20.

  16.14 John the Baptist. See 14.1–2. Jesus’ miracles resembled those of Elijah (see notes on 11.5; 14.13–21; also note on 3.4). Jeremiah or one of the prophets. See, e.g., 13.57; 21.11; see note on 11.9. Deut 18.15–18 fueled the expectation of the appearance of a prophet, but the origin of the specific expectation of Jeremiah is unknown (see, however, 2.17; 27.9).

  16.16 Simon Peter. See notes on 4.18;10.2; 14.28. Messiah. See note on 1.1. Son of the living God. Cf. 14.33; see note on 3.17; cf. Rom 9.26 (Hos 1.10 Septuagint); Jubilees 1.25.

  16.17 Blessed. See note on 5.3. Son of Jonah. Cf. Jn 1.42. Flesh and blood, human beings.

  16.18 And I tell you. See note on 5.18. Peter, from the Greek petros (Cephas, Aramaic kepha; see note on 1 Cor 1.12) for rock or “stone,” thus a symbolic renaming, “Rocky.” Church, common in most of the NT, is found only here and in 18.17 (twice) in the four Gospels. Gates of Hades (see notes on 11.23; Tob 13.2), the power of death (see Isa 5.14; 38.10; Wis 16.13–14; Rev 1.18; 6.8) or of the evil underworld (see Rev 9.1).

  16.19 Keys of the kingdom, here given to Peter, symbolize the authority to control entry (cf. lock…out, 23.13; see also Isa 22.22; Rev 3.7). In 18.18 the power to bind and loose is given to the communities (see also Jn 20.23). This could be the power to forgive sin (26.28; cf. Jn 20.23), exorcise demons (12.29), or ban persons from the communities (18.17–18), but most likely it is the power to teach authoritatively (28.20).

  16.20 See note on 8.4.

  16.21–23 Cf. Mk 8.31–33; Lk 9.22. The first of four passion predictions (see also 17.22–23; 20.17–19; 26.1–2).

  16.21 He must. The words suggest a divine plan, perhaps in fulfillment of Isa 52–53 (see 26.54; note on 1.22–23). Elders, Israelite leaders who, with the chief priests, constitute the primary opposition to Jesus during the final days in Jerusalem (see 26.3, 47, 57). Chief priests and scribes. See notes on 2.4; 21.15. On the third day. See also 1 Cor 15.4. Be raised, i.e., by God (see Acts 2.24; 4.10).

  16.22 Lord. See note on 7.21.

  16.23 Satan. See note on 4.1; cf. vv. 17–19. Stumbling block. See note on 13.41. Divine things, i.e., God’s plan.

  16.24–28 Cf. Mk 8.34–9.1; Lk 9.23–27.

  16.24 Disciples. See notes on 4.18–22;10.2; 16.5. Take up their cross and follow me. See 10.16–23, 38.

  16.25 See 10.39.

  16.26 Gain the whole world. See 4.8–9.

  16.27 Son of Man. See note on 8.20. With his angels. See note on 13.39. Repay…for what has been done. Judgment according to one’s deeds is prominent in Matthew (see 5.17–20; 7.15–20; see also Rom 2.6; 1 Cor 4.5; 2 Cor 5.10). Cf. note on 3.8.

  16.28 Truly I tell you. See note on 5.18. Some standing here. The coming of the Son of Man was expected within the lifetime of that generation (see 10.23; 13.41; 24.34).

  MATTHEW 17

  The Transfiguration

  1Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, Ia will make three dwellingsb here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved;c with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 6When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.

  9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” 10And t
he disciples asked him, “Why, then, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 11He replied, “Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things; 12but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands.” 13Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

  Jesus Cures a Boy with a Demon

  14When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, 15and said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.” 17Jesus answered, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.” 18And Jesus rebuked the demon,d and ite came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. 19Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of af mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”g

  Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection

  22As they were gatheringh in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands, 23and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.” And they were greatly distressed.