1. Then came to him from Jerusalem.] This section may be divided into three parts: first, the hypocrisy of the Pharisees is made manifest, 15:1–20; secondly, the men of good will are not rejected, 15:21–39; thirdly, the leaven of the Pharisees is proscribed, 16:1–12. On the whole, the evangelist describes the relation of three classes to our Lord: the disciples advance in his knowledge, the multitudes seek mainly for temporal benefits
Matthew 15:1–16:12