Matthew 15 10

Matthew 15:10 kjv

And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:

Matthew 15:10 nkjv

When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand:

Matthew 15:10 niv

Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen and understand.

Matthew 15:10 esv

And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and understand:

Matthew 15:10 nlt

Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. "Listen," he said, "and try to understand.

Matthew 15 verses

Matthew 15 10 Meaning

Matthew 15:10 serves as a pivotal call from Jesus to the general populace, redirecting their focus from the preceding theological debate with the Pharisees concerning outward rituals to a fundamental truth about inner spiritual purity. Jesus commands the crowd to not just listen to His words, but to actively comprehend the profound spiritual principle He is about to reveal – that true defilement originates from within the heart, not from external traditions or ceremonial impurity. It is a universal injunction to grasp a critical lesson that counters superficial religious observance with deep spiritual discernment.

Matthew 15 10 Context

Matthew 15:10 immediately follows a confrontational encounter between Jesus and the scribes and Pharisees. These religious leaders from Jerusalem had criticized Jesus' disciples for not adhering to the tradition of ceremonially washing their hands before eating, viewing it as defilement. Jesus, however, turned their critique back on them, accusing them of nullifying the commandments of God through their man-made traditions, particularly citing their perversion of the commandment to honor parents with the Corban vow (Mt 15:1-9). This heated theological dispute, likely observed by onlookers, laid the groundwork. Therefore, in verse 10, Jesus abruptly shifts His focus from the Pharisees to the surrounding multitude. He publicly summons them closer, indicating a crucial teaching is about to be imparted—a teaching not just for His disciples or religious elite, but for everyone present. The cultural context emphasizes that ceremonial purity was paramount in Jewish society, often conflated with true righteousness. Jesus' forthcoming teaching (vv. 11-20) would profoundly challenge this deeply ingrained external focus, revealing a radically different understanding of defilement that springs from the heart, a concept many struggled to grasp.

Matthew 15 10 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): A simple conjunction, often used to indicate continuation or a new, but connected, development in the narrative. Here, it marks a direct shift in Jesus' audience and emphasis following His engagement with the Pharisees.
• He called (προσκαλεσάμενος - proskalesamenos): An aorist participle of the verb proskaleō. It means "to call to oneself," "to summon," or "to invite to one's side." This isn't a casual address but a deliberate and authoritative summoning, implying that Jesus wanted to draw the crowd closer to ensure they would hear and fully attend to His coming vital teaching. It suggests a movement towards Jesus for special instruction.
• the multitude (τὸν ὄχλον - ton ochlon): Refers to "the crowd," "the masses," or "the general public." This specifies Jesus' audience beyond the initial group of Pharisees and disciples. It emphasizes that the truth He is about to teach is for everyone, especially the common people who might have been misled by external religious practices and the Pharisees' teachings.
• to Himself (implied by proskalesamenos): The action of calling is directed toward His own person, signifying that He is taking personal initiative and authority to gather them to receive His direct instruction.
• and said (εἶπεν - eipen): A standard Greek verb for "he said," introducing direct speech.
• to them (αὐτοῖς - autois): Dative plural pronoun, confirming that the following command is addressed explicitly to the assembled multitude.
• “Hear (ἀκούετε - akouete): Present active imperative, plural, from akouō. This is a direct command, emphasizing not just the physical act of hearing sounds but attentive listening. It implies an ongoing need to listen and pay heed. In biblical thought, "hearing" often signifies obedience and reception of truth, not just audibility.
• and (καὶ - kai): Again, a simple conjunction, linking the two commands.
• understand” (συνίετε - syniete): Present active imperative, plural, from syniēmi. This is a stronger command than simply hearing. It means "to grasp," "to comprehend," "to gain insight," "to put things together," or "to perceive." It demands mental engagement and spiritual discernment, implying a move from external hearing to internal spiritual realization and cognition. This is critical, as Jesus demands not merely passive reception but active, reflective understanding.

Words-group Analysis:

• He called the multitude to Himself and said to them: This phrase marks a deliberate and significant change in the dynamics of the discourse. Jesus shifts from arguing with the religious elite to teaching the common people. This act demonstrates His compassionate care for those often marginalized or misdirected by religious legalism, offering them direct, personal instruction that circumvents the intermediaries.
• “Hear and understand.”: This imperative pair is a forceful summons for intellectual and spiritual engagement. It's not enough to hear the words physically; one must process them, grasp their true meaning, and apply them. This echoes prophetic calls for the people of Israel to genuinely heed God's voice and comprehend His covenant. In the immediate context, this phrase underscores the profundity of the upcoming teaching about what truly defiles a person, requiring the multitude to break free from conventional, superficial understanding of purity and engage with a deeper spiritual reality.

Matthew 15 10 Bonus section

The specific choice of calling the "multitude" to Himself marks a strategic move by Jesus. While the immediate preceding discussion was a critique of the Pharisees, this general summons to the common people indicates that the following truth is for universal application and understanding, especially since it challenges common societal beliefs about purity and piety. The shift also implies a critique of religious leaders who withheld true spiritual insight from the people, replacing it with burdensome traditions. By inviting the common people, Jesus democratizes divine revelation, making profound spiritual principles directly accessible to those often considered spiritually uneducated. This highlights Jesus' role as the ultimate Teacher and the source of true spiritual authority, transcending the interpretative monopoly claimed by the religious authorities of His time. This directive from Jesus, therefore, serves not only as an introduction to His teaching on defilement but also as an indictment against the spiritual leadership that blinded the masses through misdirected emphasis.

Matthew 15 10 Commentary

Matthew 15:10 encapsulates a critical turning point in Jesus’ ministry as presented in this chapter. After a contentious exchange with the Jerusalem scribes and Pharisees concerning man-made traditions versus divine commands, Jesus intentionally turns His attention to the general public. His act of "calling the multitude to Himself" signifies His inclusive ministry and His desire that fundamental spiritual truths be accessible to all, not just a privileged few or theological elite. It is a moment where Jesus elevates the importance of the Spirit over the letter, and internal reality over external ritual.

The concise command, "Hear and understand," is foundational. It transcends a mere request; it's an urgent, authoritative imperative for active and profound cognition. Jesus is not simply asking them to listen to His words with their ears but to engage their minds and spirits to grasp the radical implication of His next teaching (vv. 11-20), which reveals that moral impurity stems from the heart, not from unwashed hands or defiling foods. This challenges centuries of cultural and religious conditioning. Many listeners were likely confused or swayed by the Pharisees' strict adherence to traditional laws. Therefore, Jesus calls them to cultivate an inner disposition of receptivity and discernment, to go beyond surface appearances and rituals to grasp the spiritual essence of God’s will. It’s a call for discernment, differentiating between genuine divine truth and human-devised religious rules. This verse is thus the gateway to understanding a central theme in Jesus’ teachings: the preeminence of the heart's condition over external adherence to law.

Example for practical usage: A follower facing conflicting advice from various religious or cultural sources might remember this command to "hear and understand" Jesus' original words, actively seeking internal comprehension and discernment over mere external compliance. When presented with religious traditions, this verse prompts them to ask: "Does this truly align with what Jesus teaches about the heart and true spiritual purity, or is it a superficial outward act?"