Clean and Unclean
Then the disciples came to Him and said, “Are You aware that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” Matthew 15:12 · Berean Standard Bible
The disciples nervously tell Jesus that He offended the Pharisees. They're worried about the consequences. But Jesus isn't interested in keeping powerful people happy.
When speaking truth creates conflict, the temptation is to smooth things over. Jesus shows you that faithfulness to God sometimes means making people uncomfortable.
The disciples report to Jesus that the Pharisees were offended.
The disciples are caught between loyalty to Jesus and fear of the religious establishment. Jesus is about to make His position very clear.
The disciples' report that the Pharisees eskandalisthēsan ('were offended/scandalized') reveals their concern about the political consequences of Jesus' teaching. They function as mediators between Jesus and the religious establishment.
The disciples' anxiety reflects the social reality that offending the Pharisees had real consequences for a Jewish teacher's standing and safety.
The disciples approach Jesus privately with their concern.
The disciples are worried about the fallout from Jesus' confrontation with the Pharisees. Jesus is about to show them that truth matters more than religious diplomacy.
10Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, “Listen and understand.
11A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”
12Then the disciples came to Him and said, “Are You aware that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
13But Jesus replied, “Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by its roots.
14Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
Read all of Matthew 15 — Jesus dismantles the purity codes the Pharisees have built and shows that what defiles a person comes from within, not without.
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