Matthew 15:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The disciples expressed their thoughts not primarily out of concern for the Pharisees, but rather due to their own feelings of discomfort. Lacking the courage to voice their concerns directly, they sought clarification through the experiences of others. Their own temptations were evident, particularly when Peter, who was often eager and vigilant in advising others, approached Jesus with the request, ‘Explain this parable to us.’ His plea revealed his inner turmoil; although he did not explicitly acknowledge his own struggle, he sought understanding to alleviate the confusion that had led to his criticism.

The disciples remarked that the Pharisees faced temptation, and they too experienced confusion. This is clearly illustrated by Peter's inquiry. Upon hearing about the Pharisees' temptation, Jesus responded with the following words.

Through this singular declaration, all the superstitions tied to Jewish customs were dismantled, leading them to believe that their faith is found in consuming certain foods while rejecting others. The term scandalum appears frequently in Church writings; therefore, it warrants a brief explanation. The Greek word σκώλον and the Latin scandalum can be interpreted as: a stumbling block, an impediment, or a hazard that causes one to trip. Thus, when we mention, ‘Who shall lead any of the least of these astray,’ it is clear that such a person has, through their actions or words, caused another to stumble.

The Lord declares that those who love Him will observe His commandments (John 14:15). However, this is the essence of my commandment: that you should love one another. Therefore, anyone who does not love their neighbor does not fulfill the commandments, and one who does not follow the commandments cannot truly love the Lord.

What is the term? Clearly, it refers to the idea that what goes into a person's mouth does not make them unclean, as it undermines the customs passed down from the elders.

In order to demonstrate the inappropriate persecution of individuals by the scribes and Pharisees for failing to wash their hands, the Lord gathered the people and declared, “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth that defiles a man.” He emphasized that it is not the food that enters a person's mouth that causes defilement, but rather the wicked thoughts that emerge from the heart. The nourishment we partake of is created and sanctified by God to support human life; therefore, it cannot render a person unclean. However, the malicious and corrupted thoughts that spring from the heart—such as the Lord identified: evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies, as stated in Matthew 15:19—are what truly defile a person. Their origin is from the adversary.

The condemnation directed at the perceived righteousness and deceit of the Pharisees was so profound that even the disciples of the Lord felt uneasy. When the Lord arrived at the house, His disciples approached Him and expressed their concern, saying, "Did You know that the Pharisees, having heard Your message that what goes into the mouth does not defile a man, were perplexed and offended?" Chrysostom notes that the disciples voiced this not out of concern for others, but rather due to their own discomfort. However, since they did not feel brave enough to speak for themselves, they sought understanding through the accounts of others.

After addressing the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, the Lord invited the crowd to draw nearer and taught them about what truly defiles a person and incurs guilt before God. He emphasized a fundamental principle: that what enters through the mouth does not make one unclean, but rather what emerges from the mouth can defile a person. Following this teaching, the Lord entered a house, where His disciples approached Him to share that the Pharisees were troubled by His message, a detail recorded only by Matthew. This raised concerns among the Apostles; either they felt uneasy that the teaching, meant to instruct, had caused the very ones it aimed to uplift to stumble, or they themselves were challenged by His assertion regarding the non-defilement of what one consumes.

Jesus entered the house, followed by His disciples. Meanwhile, the Pharisees, troubled by Jesus' public exposure of their hypocrisy, lingered among the people and likely began to teach them that Jesus' statements were a test for devout Jews who wished to uphold all the traditions of their elders. The disciples, who had entered the house with Jesus and overheard the Pharisees’ arguments, approached Him and remarked, “Do you know that when the Pharisees heard this word, they were offended?” According to John Chrysostom, the disciples expressed this concern not out of regard for the Pharisees, but because they themselves were unsettled by Jesus' teachings, though they were hesitant to acknowledge their confusion. Their internal struggle is evident when Peter stepped forward and asked Jesus, ‘Explain this parable to us.’ This request reveals his mental uncertainty; instead of admitting his temptation directly, he seeks clarification on the parable.

"Upon receiving this message," referring specifically to the words in verse 11 and not verses 3-6, as some may interpret. These expressions appeared particularly blessed since they were addressed to the congregation. St. Chrysostom, drawing from Peter's remarks (Matthew 15:15), suggests that the disciples may have felt a degree of temptation or unease, yet they refrained from voicing their concerns directly and instead sought understanding through the accounts of others.

The teachings of the Lord appeared perplexing to the Jewish scholars, who were immersed in trivial and external regulations concerning purity and impurity. The disciples questioned Him, asking if He was being tested like the Pharisees who heard His message. However, the Lord illustrated through the metaphor of a plant, emphasizing that any doctrine misaligned with the unveiled truth of God will inevitably lose its influence and meaning. This applies to the teachings of the Pharisees, the spiritually blind leaders of the people, who relied on their perilous guidance: "Every garden that My Father in heaven does not plant will be uprooted; leave them; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit."