Matthew 15:29–39
Jesus offered another big meal. But now it was for non- Jews. His kingdom was now open to all people.
Jesus fed 4000 people. At first, another miracle like this may seem to be unnecessary. (Compare how Jesus fed 5000 people. This is in Matthew 14:13–21.) The two stories seem very similar. But Matthew recorded them both. There was a reason for this.
Jesus had been in a non- Jewish area. It was called Gennesaret. It was next to the Sea of Galilee. (Read Matthew 14:34–35.) In Matthew 15:21, Jesus was near Tyre and Sidon. This was an area to the far north of Galilee. In this passage, Jesus was in Galilee again. He was in the area of the Ten Towns. Its name was the Decapolis. But he was still on the non- Jewish side of the lake. Matthew 15:29 suggests this. Mark 7:31 confirms it. Another detail confirms it too. The Greek word for ‘basket’ in Matthew 14:20 is a Jewish word. But in Matthew 15:37, it is a non- Jewish word. This shows that Matthew’s facts were accurate.
Jesus fed 5000 people. This event was at the end of his work among the Jews in Galilee. So, Matthew 15:1–39 described Jesus’ work in mainly non- Jewish country. There he fed 4000 people. This event finished a brief time among the non- Jews (or Gentiles). Jewish people who were sick came to Jesus. He healed them (Matthew 14:14). Gentiles who were sick came to Jesus. He healed them too (Matthew 15:31).
Matthew referred here to many passages that are in the OT. They are all from the same book. First, there was Isaiah 52:7. It said that someone would declare the good news of salvation. He would do this on a mountain. That was what Jesus did (Matthew 15:29). Next, there was Isaiah 52:7–10. Salvation would come to people who were from all over the world. At that time, Jesus was working among non- Jews. They represented the nations of the world.
Isaiah 35:5–6 described someone who would heal. Matthew used the same words in Matthew 15:30–31. The whole of Isaiah chapter 35 was about the same subject. It showed that the results of sin would end. Isaiah 25:6–12 described the final big meal. God would have this big meal for all his people. Here, on the mountain, Jesus provided a big meal. Also there was Isaiah 29:18–19, 23. The Jews would be God’s friends again. Matthew used the same sort of words in Matthew 15:31.
Matthew must have thought that these verses were important. One day, God’s kingdom would be complete. There would be people from all nations in it. Here, Jesus provided a big meal for non- Jews (Gentiles). Jesus provided the same big meal for Jews and Gentiles. This showed that non- Jews can be proper members of God’s kingdom. But they must recognise who Jesus is. They must believe that he is God’s rescuer.
This passage taught about Jesus. There were three important lessons.
- Jesus brought good news that came from God. Matthew repeated several passages from the OT here. Jews who read his book would understand why he used them. Jesus was the person whom the OT described. He would declare God’s salvation. He would bring God’s peace to the world.
- Jesus himself would achieve this salvation. He would stop the terrible results of sin. Isaiah 35:5–6 told about great miracles. Matthew used the same words about Jesus in Matthew 15:30-31. We know, too, that the results of sin will end. The rest of Isaiah 35 declared this. Jesus fed 4000 people. That reminds us of God’s final big meal.
- Jesus makes men and women to be friends with God. He makes them into holy people. The reaction of the people in Matthew 15:31 was like Isaiah 29:18–19, 23. Jesus is the Saviour (someone who saves). He helps his disciples to be holy.
Questions
- Pretend that you were there when Jesus fed the crowd. You were a Gentile (non- Jew). Remember that Jesus was a Jew. So, you would think that he must be against you. Imagine that you met Jesus. What would his attitude really be to you?
- Many people in our own districts today have great needs. It may not be for actual food. What other needs are there? How can members of the church help them?
