The Meaning of Matthew 15:17 Explained

Matthew 15:17

KJV: Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

YLT: do ye not understand that all that is going into the mouth doth pass into the belly, and into the drain is cast forth?

Darby: Do ye not yet apprehend, that everything that enters into the mouth finds its way into the belly, and is cast forth into the draught?

ASV: Perceive ye not, that whatsoever goeth into the mouth passeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Do  not  ye  yet  understand,  that  whatsoever  entereth in  at  the mouth  goeth  into  the belly,  and  is cast out  into  the draught? 

What does Matthew 15:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 15:10-20 - What Really Defiles
It is good to study our Lord's list of the sources of soul-pollution. Evil thoughts come first. We cannot prevent an evil suggestion being presented to our minds, but we can refuse to dwell on it. To resist the inclination to dwell on it strengthens us in the opposite direction; to yield to it is to commit the sin in our heart, which, in God's sight, is equivalent to the outward act. Notice that railing, that is, unkind and uncharitable speech, is in this black-list.
The heart, rather than the body, is the source of sin. Out of the heart! The body is the dial-plate on which the soul registers its improvement or deterioration. Do not find fault with your members: look to your heart and keep it beyond keeping, for out of it are the issues of life. Ask God to create in you a clean heart. See that you distinguish between the first Adam and the second. Deny what you inherit of human weakness and sin, and affirm all that is of Christ's imparting. The cross of Calvary and the uprising of the living Christ are facts of perpetual experience. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 15

1  Jesus reproves the Scribes and Pharisees
7  for transgressing God's commandments through their own traditions;
10  teaches how that which goes into the mouth does not defile a man
21  He heals the daughter of the woman of Canaan,
29  and other great multitudes;
32  and with seven loaves and a few small fish feeds four thousand men

Greek Commentary for Matthew 15:17

Perceive ye not? [ου νοειτε]
Christ expects us to make use of our νους — nous intellect, not for pride, but for insight. The mind does not work infallibly, but we should use it for its God-given purpose. Intellectual laziness or flabbiness is no credit to a devout soul. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 15:17

Hebrews 11:3 By faith [πιστει]
Instrumental case of πιστις — pistis which he now illustrates in a marvellous way. Each example as far as Hebrews 11:31 is formally and with rhetorical skill introduced by πιστει — pistei After that only a summary is given. We understand Present active indicative of νοεω — noeō old verb (from νους — nous intellect) as in Matthew 15:17; Romans 1:20. The author appeals to our knowledge of the world in which these heroes lived as an illustration of faith. Recent books by great scientists like Eddington and Jeans confirm the position here taken that a Supreme Mind is behind and before the universe. Science can only stand still in God‘s presence and believe like a little child. The worlds “The ages” as in Hebrews 1:2 (cf. Einstein‘s fourth dimension, time). Accusative case of general reference. Have been framed Perfect passive infinitive of καταρτιζω — katartizō to mend, to equip, to perfect (Luke 6:40), in indirect discourse after νοουμεν — nooumen So that As a rule εις το — eis to with the infinitive is final, but sometimes as here it expresses result as in Romans 12:3 (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1003). Hath been made Perfect active infinitive of γινομαι — ginomai What is seen Present passive articular participle (accusative case of general reference) of βλεπω — blepō Of things which do appear Ablative case with εκ — ek (out of) of the present passive participle. The author denies the eternity of matter, a common theory then and now, and places God before the visible universe as many modern scientists now gladly do. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 15:17 mean?

Not yet understand you that everything - entering into the mouth the stomach goes and [the] sewer is cast out
οὐ νοεῖτε ὅτι πᾶν τὸ εἰσπορευόμενον εἰς τὸ στόμα τὴν κοιλίαν χωρεῖ καὶ ἀφεδρῶνα ἐκβάλλεται

οὐ  Not  yet 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὐ  
Sense: no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer.
νοεῖτε  understand  you 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: νοέω  
Sense: to perceive with the mind, to understand, to have understanding.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
πᾶν  everything 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
εἰσπορευόμενον  entering 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: εἰσπορεύομαι  
Sense: to go into, enter.
εἰς  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
στόμα  mouth 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: στόμα  
Sense: the mouth, as part of the body: of man, of animals, of fish, etc.
κοιλίαν  stomach 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: κοιλία  
Sense: the whole belly, the entire cavity.
χωρεῖ  goes 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: χωρέω  
Sense: to leave space (which may be filled or occupied by another), to make room, give place, yield.
ἀφεδρῶνα  [the]  sewer 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀφεδρών 
Sense: a place where the human waste discharges are dumped.
ἐκβάλλεται  is  cast  out 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐκβάλλω  
Sense: to cast out, drive out, to send out.