Title: Even Dogs Eat Crumbs / Matthew 15
The ultimate purpose of the writings of the Gospel writers, including Matthew, was to explain that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world, so that sinners could believe in Jesus and be saved.
1 “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (1-20)
However, as the Gospels repeatedly pointed out, the Pharisees and scribes, who were the religious leaders of Israel, did not immediately believe or love Jesus, nor did they humble themselves before Jesus. Rather, they criticized, resented, and opposed Jesus. They and their ancestors had only religious rituals, forms, and traditions. He pretended to believe in God with his lips, but his heart was far from God. Christianity is a religion of the heart. The form is secondary. They say they respect their parents, but in their hearts they neither respect nor love them. Likewise, they honored God in word and form, but neither honored nor loved God in their hearts.
2 “Even dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table” (21-28)
3 “a great crowd brought the lame, the crippled, the blind, the dumb, and many others” (29-39)
The people who came to Jesus here and received grace were still sick and hungry crowds. They were the ones who came before Jesus, whether they came out on their own or were brought in by others. There must be people who bring them and there must be people who donate small things (seven bottles of ear).