These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashed hands defiles not a man.
All Commentaries on Matthew 15:20 Go To Matthew 15
John Chrysostom
AD 407
Or, The Lord blames him, because it was not from any uncertainty that he asked this, but from offence which he had taken. The multitudes had not understood what had been said; but the disciples were offended at it, whence at the first they had desired to ask Him concerning the Pharisees, but had been stayed by that mighty declaration, “Every plant "But Peter, who is ever zealous, is not silent even so; therefore the Lord reproves him, adding a reason for His reproof, “Do ye not understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goethinto the belly, and is cast out into the draught?”.
But the Lord in thus speaking answers His disciples after Jewish infirmity; He says that the food does not abide, but goes out; but if it did abide, yet would it not make a man unclean. But they could not yet hear these things. Thus Moses also pronounces that they continued unclean, so long as the food continued inthem; for he bids them wash in the evening, and then they should be clean; calculating the time of digestion and egestion.
For the things which are of the heart, remain within a man, and defile him ingoing out of him, as well as in abiding in him; yea, more in going out of him; wherefore He adds, “Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts;” He gives these the first place, because this was the very fault of the Jews, who laid snares forHim.For instance, if he see us direct frequent looks towards a fair woman, he understands that our heart is wounded through the eye.
He said not that to eat the meats forbidden in the Law defiles not a man, that they might not have what to answer to Him again; but He concludes in that concerning which the disputation had been.
