Matthew 15

“Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,” Naming Jerusalem and Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,” Naming Esaias keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” The line’s distinctive content terms include draweth, heart, honoureth. Its relationship to verses 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” The line’s distinctive content terms include commandments, doctrines, teaching. Its relationship to verses 10 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:” Naming Hear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.” Naming Not keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.” Naming Declare and Peter keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.” The line’s distinctive content terms include defile, heart, mouth. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” The line’s distinctive content terms include defile, defileth, hands. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.” Naming Jesus and Sidon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou…” Naming Canaan and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after…” Naming Send keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bread, children’s, dogs. Its relationship to verses 25 and 27 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Naming Truth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down…” Naming Galilee and Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and…” Naming Insomuch keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the…” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.” The number four makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.” Naming Magdala keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.