Matthew chapter 15

In this chapter we have the pattern of Jesus' whole ministry on earth. The educated religious elite of Jesus' day confronting Him, His own disciples trusted but could not understand him, but a foreign woman who had both understanding (but not necessarily of the scriptures) and faith, recognized his identity as the Son of David or Messiah.

The confrontation with Pharisees here is yet another important warning for believers about living the way God wants us to, and not just studying or practicing the law. Jesus points out that though the Pharisees use their traditions as a standard for righteousness, some of their traditions can be extended to even contradict the written law of the Old Testament. Notice also that the most heinous crime the Pharissees could confront Jesus and His disciples about was not washing their hands. Christians today who strongly advocate particular views as biblical, yet cannot demonstrate them from Scripture understood in context, follow tradition rather than Scripture just as did many of Jesus' contemporaries. Jesus is very stern here and quotes Isaiah 29:13 saying that "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men."

This is why it is so important to continually examine the scriptures and seek God's truth when building or hearing a doctorine.

Jesus points out that it is not 'breaking the law' which makes us unclean and unrighteous but what comes out. The things we do and say not the things we intake or hear. "Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.'" Since the words and actions which come out are a sign of what is in our hearts it is not what we revieve but what we demonstrate which is evidence of an unclean heart.

Next Jesus has an interesting encounter with a Canaanite woman. The woman's daughter is possessed by a demon and is in need of healing. Jesus ignors her at first, unill the disciples plead for Him to send her away. Jesus then says "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." This statement is directly related to God's plan for ministry and reconciling the world to Him. Jesus' ministry was specifically for the Jews but His death purchased life for paople of all nations.
"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." - Romans 1:16
and
"There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." - Romans 2:9-10
These scriptures do not suggest a preference for the Jews but simply a chronological order. God first revealed Himself to them in the Old Testament, Jesus came and ministered specically to Jews and they will be the first to recieve glory, honor and peace.
Jesus also compares Jews to His children while Gentiles to dogs.
Jesus said "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."
"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."
Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour."
The woman did not ask for the greatest of Jesus glory and power, she knew that even the crumbs that fell from His table would be sufficient for the healing of her daughter. Again, as a result of voicing their faith, Jesus does heal a Gentile, and agian it is from a distance. It is also important and enouraging to note that while she is a Gentile and thus a 'dog' from the parable, it is this Gentile woman, not the Pfarisees or even the disciples who are commended for faith. The Pharisees are hypocrites who honor God with their lips, but have their hearts far from Him. The disciples trust and obey Jesus but still dont understand Him and He calles them dull or dimwitted. This Gentile however is a woman of great faith!

In Matthew 15:29-39, like in the previous chapter, Jesus has compassion on the crowd listening to him and performs a miracle so that they might be fed.