Matthew 15

In Matthew 15 we see the Pharisees hounding Jesus again. Nit-picking about His disciples not washing their hands. Jesus turns the tables and reminds them of about how they deprive elder parents of the support of their children by absorbing it into the temple treasury. Jesus identifies them as the ones Isaiah prophesied about - setting up man-made doctrines that only have the appearance of honoring God.

Jesus settles the matter of the ritual cleansing by pointing out that the true cleansing must take place in our hearts because that is where everything that offends God comes from.

The story about the Canaanite woman is a demonstration of something Jesus teaches about prayer elsewhere - keep asking and you will receive what you ask for. She asked Jesus for help and He ignored her. She asked again and He disqualified her. She asked again and He insulted her. When she humbled herself to the insult Jesus marveled at her faith and answered her prayer.

Then Jesus fed the four thousand with seven loaves of bread and a few small fish, and seven baskets were left over.