Devine Scripture

Matthew 15:20

What does Matthew 15:20 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 15:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 15:20 means

Jesus concludes His teaching on purity by clearly stating that these internal evils, which originate from the heart, are the things that truly defile a person. He then reiterates that eating with unwashed hands, the initial point of contention raised by the Pharisees, does not spiritually defile an individual. This final statement directly refutes the Pharisees' tradition and firmly establishes Jesus's radical new paradigm emphasizing the paramount importance of internal righteousness over external ritual.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

these are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not the man.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

these are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not the man.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

These are the things which make a man unclean; but to take food with unwashed hands does not make a man unclean.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

these are the things defiling the man; but to eat with unwashen hands doth not defile the man.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

These are the things that defile a man. But to eat with unwashed hands doth not defile a man.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

these are the things which defile man; but the eating with unwashen hands does not defile man.

Context

This verse serves as the definitive concluding statement of Jesus's teaching on defilement, directly answering the initial accusation of the Pharisees (verse 2) and summarizing His entire discourse. It emphatically reiterates the supremacy of internal purity over external observances, providing a clear distinction for the disciples and the crowd. This concludes the primary theological debate of the first part of the chapter.

v.19For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings:

v.20This passage

v.21And Jesus went out thence, and withdrew into the parts of Tyre and Sidon.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 15:2

    Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

  • Revelation 21:27

    and there shall in no wise enter into it anything unclean, or he that maketh an abomination and a lie: but only they that are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:18

    Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

  • Matthew 23:25

    Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full from extortion and excess.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:16

    Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

  • Revelation 21:8

    But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.

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