Bible Commentaries
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes
Matthew 15
came = come.
scribes, &c. = the scribes. Note the four parties addressed in this chapter: (1) scribes, &c. from Jerusalem, verses: Matthew 15:1-9; (2) the multitudes, verses: Matthew 15:10, Matthew 15:11; (3) the disciples, verses: Matthew 15:12-14; (4) Peter, verses: Matthew 15:15-20.
Pharisees. See App-120. of = away from. Greek. apo.
Jerusalem. The seat of authority in these matters.
transgress. Greek. parabaino. App-128.
the elders. Greek. presbuteroi. Always used in the Papyri officially, not of age (old men), but of communal officers and heathen priests.
wash not. To wash before eating is still a rigorous custom in Palestine. See App-136.
bread. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6, for all kinds of food.
ye. Emphatic. Note the Figure of speech Anteisagoge.
also. Connect "also" with "ye", not with "transgress".
by = on account of. Greek. dia.
commanded. Quoted from Exodus 20:12; Exodus 20:21. Exodus 20:17. App-117.
let him die the death = he shall surely die. Figure of speech Polyptoton. See Exodus 21:17. Leviticus 20:9. Deuteronomy 5:16; Deuteronomy 27:16. Proverbs 30:17.
It is. Supply ("Be that"] instead of "It is".
a gift = dedicated to God.
thou: i.e. the parent.
profited = helped.
by = of. Greek. ek.
me: i.e. the son.
And = And [in consequence of this evasion]. not = you certainly do not. Greek. ou me = by no means, in no wise.
he shall be free. There is no Ellipsis here if it be supplied as in Matthew 15:8.
This people. Quoted from Isaiah 29:13. See App-107 and App-117.
is far = keepeth far distant.
from = away from. Greek. apo. App-104.
His disciples. See note on "scribes", Matthew 15:1.
offended = stumbled.
saying. Greek. logos. See note on Mark 9:32.
Every plant. Implying the scribes, &c, by the Figure of speech Hypocatastaais. See note on "dogs", Matthew 15:26, and on "leaven" (Matthew 16:6).
plant. Greek. phuteia. Occurs only here.
heavenly. Greek. ouranios. See note on Matthew 6:14.
they be, &c. Figure of speech Paroemia. App-6.
if, &c.: i.e. experience will show it. App-118.
Peter. See note on "scribes", &c, Matthew 15:1.
Declare = Expound. See note on Matthew 13:36.
in at = into. Greek. eis. App-104.
draught = sewer, or sink. Greek. aphedron, a Macedonian word.
But those, &c. Figure of speech Epimone, verses: 18-20.
from = out of. Greek. ek, as in preceding clause,
evil. Greek. poneros. App-128.
thoughts = reasonings.
false witness. Greek. pseudomarturia. Occurs only in Matthew (here, and Matthew 26:59).
out of = from. Greek. apo.
the same = those.
coasts = borders.
Have mercy = Pity
Son Of David. The fourth of nine occurrences of this title (App-98). The woman (a "dog" of the Gentiles) had no claim on the "Son of David". Hence the silence of the Lord.
grievously = miserably.
vexed with a devil = possessed by a demon; Greek. daimonizomai.
But, &c. Because a Gentile had no claim on the Son of David. Figure of speech Accismus. App-6.
worshipped Him = threw herself at His feet [and remained there]. Imperfect tense. Compare John 9:38. See App-137.
Lord, help me. This was a better plea, but there was no definition of the "me", as with the publican: "me, a sinner" (Luke 18:13).
meet = fair.
the children's bread = the bread of the children, with emphasis on children. Figure of speech Enallage. App-6.
children"s. See App-108.
dogs = puppies, or little household dogs; this is true only of such. Dogs are not cared for (in the East) when grown. The Lord used the Figure of speech Hypocatastasis (App-6), implying that she was only a Gentile, and thus had still no claim even on that ground. Gentiles were known as "dogs" by the Jews, and despised as such (Matthew 7:6; 1 Samuel 17:43. 2 Samuel 3:8; 2 Samuel 9:8. 2 Kings 8:13. Philippians 1:3, Philippians 1:2).
Truth = Yea.
yet = for even: assenting to the Lord's words, while using them as an additional ground of her plea.
crumbs = scraps.
answered and said = exclaimed and said. A Hebraism. See note on Deuteronomy 1:41.
O woman. Figure of speech Ecphonesis.
great is thy faith. Contrast the disciples (Matthew 16:8), where the same Figure of speech Hypocatastasis (App-6), is used, and ought to have been understood.
nigh unto = beside. Greek. para. App-104.
a = the, as in Matthew 14:23.
sat down = was sitting down.
to speak = speaking.
to be whole = sound.
to walk = walking.
to see = seeing.
the God of Israel. See Isaiah 29:23.
called = called to [Him].
on = upon. Greek. epi.
now = already.
three days = the third day. Observe, not "and nights". See note on Matthew 12:40, and App-144and App-156.
nothing = not anything.
I will not = I am not willing. See App-102.
we. Emphatic, as are the words which follow.
the wilderness = a desert place. These are emphatic also, in addition to "we".
fill = satisfy.
I am, &c. = I was.
but = except.
unto = to. Greek. eis. App-104.
lost. Because being without a shepherd. But see note on 1 Kings 12:17.
the house of Israel. Therefore it was still represented by those in the Land. See note on and compare Acts 2:14, Acts 2:22, Acts 2:36.
brake. See note on Matthew 14:19.
to = [gave] to. Supplying the Ellipsis from the preceding clause.
broken meat = fragments, or crumbs.
baskets = large baskets. Greek. spuris. Compare Matthew 14:20. Acts 9:25. Our modern clothes-basket.
took ship = entered into Greek. eis. the ship (mentioned above, in Matthew 14:22, &c).
Magdala. See App-169.
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