Matthew 15:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.

NIV: Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.

NASB: Jesus went away from there, and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon.

CSB: When Jesus left there, he withdrew to the area of Tyre and Sidon.

NLT: Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon.

KJV: Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

NKJV: Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.

Jesus had attempted to withdraw from the religious leaders and the crowds before (Matthew 14:34–35). However, too many desperate people wanted His help, willing to travel far and wide and hunt Him down wherever He went. Now Jesus and His disciples make another attempt to withdraw from the people and the Pharisees. He leaves Israel and enters pagan Gentile territory. Specifically, Jesus travels east from Galilee to the district of the Gentile towns of Tyre and Sidon. Jesus was much less likely to be known and pursued outside of Israel.

This is the region to which Jesus had referred when condemning the unwillingness of fellow Israelites to repent (Matthew 11:20–24). In a virtual fulfillment of those words, this thoroughly pagan region will produce a famous example of faith (Matthew 15:22).

Matthew 15:21–28 describes an encounter between Jesus and a Gentile woman. She knows Jesus is the Messiah and tells Him her daughter is severely oppressed by a demon. At first, Jesus chooses not to cast the demon out. He tells the woman His mission is only to Israel, using a metaphor about table scraps. The woman persists, and Jesus praises her for her for faith. Her daughter is healed instantly. This seems to be a teaching moment for the disciples, as Jesus will continue to another Gentile-heavy area and heal many, in the next passage.

Pharisees and scribes come from Jerusalem to challenge Jesus. They are offended that His disciples break the religious leaders' tradition about ritual handwashing before meals. Jesus turns that attack upside down, pointing out that His critics honor tradition above God's actual commands! He insists that nobody is defiled by what goes in the mouth—by the literal matter itself—but by the overflow of the spirit, such as the words that come out of the mouth. He and the disciples travel out of the country. Jesus casts a demon out of the daughter of a persistent Canaanite woman. They travel to the southeast side of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus feeds thousands of people from a few loaves and fishes. These last two events set up the eventual spread of the gospel beyond the people of Israel.

Matthew 15 begins with a confrontation between some Pharisees and Jesus. They ask why His disciples break the traditional practice of ritual handwashing. Pointedly, Jesus asks why they allow the obvious intent of God's commandments to be broken through their traditions. Jesus and the disciples travel out of Israel, encountering a Canaanite woman. He praises her faith and casts a demon from her daughter. They travel to the southeast side of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus heals more people and feeds thousands more from another few loaves and fishes. This sets up another confrontation with religious leaders, warnings about their teachings, and predictions of Jesus' death in the next chapter.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.

Accessed 5/5/2024 4:00:43 PM