Matthew 15:16 kjv
And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
Matthew 15:16 nkjv
So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding?
Matthew 15:16 niv
"Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them.
Matthew 15:16 esv
And he said, "Are you also still without understanding?
Matthew 15:16 nlt
"Don't you understand yet?" Jesus asked.
Matthew 15 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mk 4:13 | And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable...? | Disciples' initial difficulty understanding parables. |
| Mk 7:18 | And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? | Parallel passage where Jesus questions disciples' comprehension. |
| Mk 8:17 | And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand...? | Jesus questions their understanding of His miraculous provisions. |
| Mk 8:21 | And He was saying to them, “Do you not yet understand?” | Emphasizes their persistent lack of comprehension. |
| Lk 9:45 | But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them... | Disciples struggle to understand Jesus' prophecy of His suffering. |
| Lk 18:34 | But they understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them... | Similar theme of disciples' limited understanding of prophecies. |
| Jn 12:16 | These things His disciples did not understand at the first... | Future understanding granted by the Holy Spirit. |
| Mt 13:13-15 | “Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see... For the heart of this people has become dull..." | Broader theme of spiritual blindness, here of the crowd and Pharisees. |
| Jer 17:9-10 | “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is incurably sick; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart..." | Connects to the heart as the source of defilement. |
| Prov 4:23 | Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. | Emphasizes the heart's foundational importance to life. |
| Mt 15:18-20 | But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries... | Immediate context: what truly defiles a person. |
| Mk 7:20-23 | And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts... | Parallel explanation of inner defilement from the heart. |
| Isa 29:13 | Then the Lord said, “Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me..." | Criticizes external rituals without heart transformation. |
| 1 Cor 2:14 | But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him... | Underscores the spiritual nature of divine understanding. |
| Rom 14:14, 17 | I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself... for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness... | New Covenant freedom from ceremonial laws concerning food. |
| Tit 1:15 | To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. | Highlights purity of heart vs. external regulations. |
| Mt 15:3-9 | And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition...? | Jesus' critique of human traditions overriding God's commands. |
| Col 2:8 | See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men... | Warning against reliance on human traditions. |
| Heb 5:12 | For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God... | Reproves spiritual immaturity, echoing Jesus' sentiment to the disciples. |
| Lk 24:25 | And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!” | Jesus rebuking disciples for slowness to believe post-resurrection. |
| Eph 4:17-18 | So this I say... that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding... | Describes a spiritual lack of understanding. |
Matthew 15 verses
Matthew 15 16 Meaning
Matthew 15:16 is Jesus' rhetorical question to His disciples, expressing surprise and concern over their continued lack of spiritual understanding. It follows His explanation that inner moral corruption, rather than external ritual impurity, truly defiles a person. Jesus' question challenges them to move beyond surface-level observation and traditional interpretations, urging them to grasp the deeper, spiritual truths of God's Kingdom regarding genuine purity and righteousness. It signifies His exasperation with their spiritual dullness, even after significant exposure to His teaching.
Matthew 15 16 Context
Matthew 15:16 occurs immediately after Jesus calls Peter, along with the other disciples, "little-faith" or "fools," (although Peter himself voices the request in v. 15, the rebuke extends to all who needed the clarification) for failing to grasp His teaching on spiritual defilement. The broader context begins with Pharisees and scribes questioning why Jesus' disciples do not observe the tradition of ritual handwashing before eating (Mt 15:1-2). Jesus responds by exposing their hypocrisy, showing how their human traditions annul God's commands (Mt 15:3-9), using the example of "Corban." He then calls the crowd and explains the true source of defilement (Mt 15:10-11), stating that what enters the mouth does not defile, but what comes from the heart does. The disciples, particularly Peter, do not understand this parable (Mt 15:15) and ask for an explanation, leading to Jesus' pointed question in verse 16. Historically, this exchange challenges the deeply ingrained Jewish halakha (rabbinic legal traditions) concerning purity, which were highly esteemed alongside, and sometimes above, the written Torah. Jesus redefines purity from an external, ritualistic act to an internal, moral condition.
Matthew 15 16 Word analysis
- So Jesus said: Connects Jesus' response to the disciples' question, emphasizing His direct teaching.
- “Are you also:
- Are: Signifies a state of being, present reality.
- you: Refers specifically to the disciples, who have been with Jesus, hearing His teachings.
- also: Greek kai (καὶ). This particle emphasizes that even they, His close followers, fall into this category of misunderstanding, linking them conceptually (though not morally) to the spiritual dullness of the Pharisees just condemned. It conveys a sense of dismay that even they struggle with a foundational spiritual truth.
- still: Greek akmēn (ἀκμήν). This term means "up to the point of," "even now," "yet." It indicates that the lack of understanding is ongoing, not just a momentary lapse. It implies a persistent spiritual immaturity despite being taught directly by Jesus.
- without understanding? (ἀσύνετοι - asyntetoi):
α-(a-): A Greek prefix for negation, meaning "not" or "without."συνετός(synetos): Meaning "intelligent," "perceptive," "wise," derived fromσυνίημι(syniēmi), "to understand" or "to comprehend."ἀσύνετοι(asyntetoi): "unintelligent," "senseless," "foolish," "lacking discernment." This is a strong descriptor. It's not merely a failure to grasp a logical point, but a spiritual inability to discern fundamental truth. It speaks to a heart condition that prevents insight into divine matters, echoing Old Testament laments about a people with ears that do not hear and eyes that do not see.
Words-group analysis:
- "Are you also still without understanding?": This rhetorical question highlights Jesus' frustration and pedagogical approach. He is not merely seeking information but prompting introspection and awakening a deeper spiritual comprehension in His disciples. It underlines the struggle even the closest followers faced in transitioning from external legalism to the profound spiritual freedom and internal purity Jesus proclaimed. It serves as a sharp contrast to the Pharisees' wilful blindness, implying that while the disciples are teachable, they still have much to learn and overcome their previous conditioning.
Matthew 15 16 Bonus section
The spiritual dullness of the disciples mentioned in this verse is a recurring theme in the Gospels. It serves a crucial purpose: it demonstrates that even those closest to Jesus needed consistent teaching and transformation by the Holy Spirit. This gives hope and reassurance to believers across ages who similarly struggle to grasp divine truths. It also highlights the progressive nature of discipleship—understanding comes through sustained engagement with Jesus' teachings and His Spirit. This incident paved the way for the radical break from old covenant dietary and purity laws that would later be fully understood and implemented by the apostles, most notably Peter in Acts 10. The concept of inward defilement forms a foundation for understanding human depravity and the necessity of regeneration through Christ.
Matthew 15 16 Commentary
Matthew 15:16 represents a critical moment in Jesus' ministry where He shifts His reproof from the outwardly religious Pharisees to His own disciples, confronting their spiritual immaturity. The question is a loving yet sharp rebuke, urging them beyond superficial thinking to embrace the profound spiritual truths of the Kingdom. It emphasizes that true defilement stems from the sinful human heart, not from external objects or ritual omissions. This challenges a deeply ingrained religious worldview centered on external regulations and ritual purity, urging them towards an internal transformation guided by God's truth. Jesus patiently teaches them to discern what genuinely pollutes a person, a core tenet often misunderstood, even by those walking closely with Him. The message underscores that spiritual insight is paramount over adherence to human traditions.